Challenges in the Field of Psycho-Oncology: Insights from Research

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 3472

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: health psychology; psycho-oncology

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Guest Editor
1. CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
2. Department of Social and Management Sciences, Open University, 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
3. Center for Global Studies, Open University, 1269-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: health psychology; psycho-oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
William James Center for Research, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: health psychology; psycho-oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
2. REACH, Mental Health Clinic, 4000-138 Porto, Portugal
Interests: health psychology; psycho-oncology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a multifactorial disease that continues to show a significant increase in incidence worldwide at different stages of the life cycle, impacting important developmental transition processes. Current scientific advancements allow for increased survival rates through early detection and access to quality treatments and survivorship care, particularly in countries with strong healthcare systems and universal access. However, this clinical condition can be disruptive, being associated with recurrent symptoms such as physical pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, impairment in cognitive function in response to treatments, and strain on personal relationships, with a negative impact on the well-being of individuals and their families. At the same time, evidence consistently suggests that psychological, social, and behavioral aspects can modulate the course of oncologic disease.

In this context, the need to provide current evidence on the advancement of knowledge at the level of psycho-oncological care becomes essential in the face of a clear paradigm shift that has moved beyond focusing on cures and has instead been invested in the assessment and development of innovative interventions aimed at promoting the quality of life of patients and their support network, considering the specificities of the disease in different populations, stages, and contexts. Furthermore, through this Special Issue, we hope to make visible the current challenges of intervention in psycho-oncology from an international perspective, identifying inequalities and, simultaneously, intervention opportunities that should be explored to promote sustained global initiatives aligned with the objectives of sustainable development (e.g., SDG 3—Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 10—Reduced Inequalities).

We invite all authors to submit their empirical studies or reviews to this Special Issue, with a focus on research in this interdisciplinary area and aligned with the priorities and global aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Ana Bartolo
Dr. Sara Monteiro
Dr. Tânia Brandão
Dr. Ricardo João Teixeira
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cancer
  • psycho-oncology
  • survivorship care
  • psychological distress
  • quality of life
  • sustainable development goals
  • global health
  • health disparities

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 533 KiB  
Article
Nutritional Status and Information Provided to Polish Cancer Patients Assessed Using the EORTC QLQ-INFO25 Questionnaire
by Elwira Gliwska, Dominika Głąbska, Zuzanna Zaczek, Jacek Sobocki and Dominika Guzek
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(3), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030697 - 22 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Malnutrition in cancer patients may significantly affect various aspects of the quality of life, outcomes, and prognosis, while satisfaction with the information provided may also influence these aspects. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of Polish cancer patients and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Malnutrition in cancer patients may significantly affect various aspects of the quality of life, outcomes, and prognosis, while satisfaction with the information provided may also influence these aspects. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of Polish cancer patients and its association with the level of information received, their potential need for more information, and the resultant quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 104 cancer patients. Validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-INFO25 were used, and nutritional assessment was conducted using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Results: Male patients reported receiving more information than females about the disease, treatment, and care options, as well as greater satisfaction, and a higher overall score. Patients receiving enteral nutrition were more satisfied compared to those not receiving it, even if the scores for the information obtained within the specific areas did not differ, but they still wished to receive more information. Older patients reported higher scores than younger patients, indicating a higher level of information received regarding medical tests and higher satisfaction. The EORTC QLQ-INFO25 global score showed strong or moderate positive correlations with the majority of modules, and the level of information provided significantly influenced satisfaction. Conclusions: Female patients, those not receiving enteral nutrition, and young patients were less satisfied with the information received, which may negatively influence their quality of life. Effective communication with patients highlights the need for personalized informational support to enhance quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in the Field of Psycho-Oncology: Insights from Research)
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Review

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19 pages, 1066 KiB  
Review
Memory Impairments and Wellbeing in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
by Pedro F. S. Rodrigues, Ana Bártolo and Pedro B. Albuquerque
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(22), 6968; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12226968 - 7 Nov 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers among women. Its effects on the cognitive and wellbeing domains have been widely reported in the literature, although with inconsistent results. The central goal of this review was to identify, in women with breast [...] Read more.
Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers among women. Its effects on the cognitive and wellbeing domains have been widely reported in the literature, although with inconsistent results. The central goal of this review was to identify, in women with breast cancer, the main memory impairments, as measured by objective and subjective tools and their relationship with wellbeing outcomes. The systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest databases. The selected studies included 9 longitudinal and 10 cross-sectional studies. Although some studies included participants undergoing multimodal cancer therapies, most focused on chemotherapy’s effects (57.89%; n = 11). The pattern of results was mixed. However, studies suggested more consistently working memory deficits in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In addition, some associations have been identified between objective memory outcomes (verbal memory) and wellbeing indicators, particularly depression and anxiety. The inconsistencies in the results could be justified by the heterogeneity of the research designs, objective and subjective measures, and sample characteristics. This review confirms that more empirical evidence is needed to understand memory impairments in women with breast cancer. An effort to increase the homogeneity of study methods should be made in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in the Field of Psycho-Oncology: Insights from Research)
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