How can we reduce the psychosocial distress associated with cancer?

Outline:
There are various approaches to reducing psychosocial distress. We are continuing to examine which of these are particularly effective in patients with cancer. Such interventions are often limited by geographical limitations and/or a lack of trained personnel. We are, thus, also examining how appropriate psychological care can be effectively integrated into the routine care of patients with unmet psychological needs associated with the diagnosis or treatment of cancer.

Specific studies:

1. A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the use of aromatherapy massage in improving quality of life in patients with cancer.
   This is a multi-centre study: Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, Liverpool Marie Curie Centre, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment. It is a randomised controlled trial comparing aromatherapy massage versus delayed therapy for patients with cancer. Given the nature of the therapies we are evaluating, a measurement strategy incorporating targeted validated psychiatric/psychological measures and study-specific qualitative measures is being used. The research is funded predominantly by the Cancer Research Campaign, with additional support from Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Relief and Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.

2. A national collaborative project to evaluate a brief multifaceted nurse-delivered intervention for severe depression in patients with advanced cancer.
   We are also participating in a national collaborative project with Michael Sharpe and Ann Cull in Edinburgh, Allan House in Leeds and Peter Maguire in Manchester to develop and test a brief multifaceted nurse-delivered intervention for severe depression in patients with cancer. If the intervention proves to be effective we look forward to its evaluation in a multicentre study.
   

Details Duration of Study
1999-2002

Main Researcher
Alex Westcombe (study1)

Publications
Westcombe AM, Cranshaw MA, Ramirez AJ, Young T, Love S, Oliver G, Maher J, Wilkinson SM. Does aromatherapy massage improve quality of life in patients with advanced cancer? The challenges of setting up a multi-centre RCT. Psycho-Oncology 1999; 8:13.