Advancing Psycho-Oncology: Multidimensional Approaches and Challenges to Cancer Care
A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 1835
Special Issue Editors
Interests: clinical health psychology; psychological adjustment; illness experience; relational resources; psychological intervention
Interests: psychopathology; personality disorders; neural correlates of consciousness; medical decision-making
Interests: palliative care; dignity care; psychotherapy; spirituality; existential distress; end of care; cancer
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Research on the experience of oncological diagnoses and treatments has consistently demonstrated a significant impact on psychological, social, behavioral, and emotional domains. Psycho-oncology plays a crucial role in addressing the burden faced by patients, families, and caregivers throughout the cancer journey, influencing health outcomes as well. From this perspective, emerging evidence shows that psychological distress not only affects mental health but also directly impacts treatment outcomes. For instance, recent studies on cancer immunotherapy have demonstrated that individuals experiencing emotional distress before treatment tend to have worse outcomes. Preventing psychological distress and addressing the mental health of cancer patients and their communities should be a priority, especially in response to the predicted exponential growth in cancer incidence by 2030, as forecasted by international scientific organizations. The primary focus should be on developing a unified and synergistic healthcare response that respects the complexity of the cancer experience, adapting efficient interventions to recover the life dimensions damaged by the illness, as well as facing the palliative stage and end of life. To fully develop the role of psycho-oncology in promoting well-being and enhancing treatment efficacy, a multidimensional approach is essential.
This Special Issue invites scholars to contribute to the debate on these domains by submitting research papers, longitudinal studies, and reviews, conducted through qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.
Topics should relate, but are not limited, to the following thematic areas:
- Psychological, psychopharmacological, and social interventions in cancer care;
- Palliative care, end-of-life, and ethical issues;
- Caregiver support and family-centered approaches;
- Challenges in cancer survivorship: oncofertility, resilience, social reintegration, fear of recurrence, and aging;
- Pediatric psycho-oncology;
- Psychoneuroimmunology, stress management, and cancer progression/remission;
- Psycho-oncological interventions for patients and healthcare professionals;
- Promoting early cancer diagnosis and prevention campaigns.
We particularly encourage submissions that address disparities in access to psycho-oncological services, innovative research methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Dr. Benedetta Muzii
Prof. Dr. Nelson Mauro Maldonato
Dr. Andrea Bovero
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- psycho-oncology
- cancer care
- adaptation process
- illness experience
- risk and protective factors
- mental health care
- oncofertility
- palliative care
- critical experience
- prevention
- qualitative and quantitative methods
- quality of life
- health behaviors
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