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Introduction: This study examined the efficacy of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared with standard psychotherapy (SP) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in paediatric oncology patients and their families in the early stage of cancer treatment. The secondary aim of this study was to assess whether EMDR therapy has a different impact on post-traumatic growth compared to SP. Methods: Forty patients were randomly assigned to EMDR or SP groups. The Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and the Distress Thermometer (DT) were used to assess PTSD symptoms at pre-treatment (at cancer diagnosis) and in the post-treatment stages (after 8 sessions). The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory-PTGI was administered in the post-treatment stage in order to evaluate positive changes. Results: Both EMDR and SP are effective in reducing PTSD, but EMDR was significantly more effective than the SP in reducing scores on the IES-R, especially regarding the intrusive symptom subscale. Also, in the EMDR group there were higher scores of PTGI than in the standard group. Conclusion: EMDR thus represents a promising treatment in the paediatric psycho-oncology setting.
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INTRODUCTION: Tumor pathology is a bio-psycho-social event that has consequences for a person's life from all points of view, physical, psychological, relational and social. The mental discomfort that chronic pain and neoplastic pathology brings with it is present in 25-40% of cases, but the request for help to a psychologist, where not provided for by a specific diagnostic therapeutic assistance path, is in the case of medical pathologies less than 3%. The Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta Oncology Network has the role of coordinating the network of services that deal with the care of the cancer patient, including those relating to psycho-oncology. The article presents data relating to the activities of psycho-oncologists of the Network in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. METHODS: A shared tool is used to collect the data, a database, made up of various variables deemed necessary to be able to photograph the activities carried out by the psycho-oncologists belonging to the Network. The database has been the subject of comparison between psychologists and has led to continuous revisions of the tool from 2017 to 2019, more accurate version. RESULTS: The 3-year study involved 2188 (2017), 3341 (2018) and 3457 (2019) adult patients or their families treated by psycho-oncologists. Patients are predominantly female with breast cancer, married/cohabiting, whose pre-eminent discomfort is anxiety, combined with the depressive component. The psychological intervention is mainly psychological support (level 2). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Psychological management is an important intervention in the path of the cancer patient. The systematic collection of data made it possible to detect an increase in patients who accessed the psycho-oncology service, from an estimate of 1/3% in 2009 to 4.6% in 2018/2019.
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Breast Neoplasms , Medical Oncology , Adult , Humans , Female , Male , AnxietyABSTRACT
Due to the war in Ukraine, many children have been killed and those who suffer from severe diseases, such as oncological pathologies, are facing serious challenges as their treatment is interrupted. The objective of this report is to describe one of the first Italian humanitarian expeditions launched to rescue children and their families to provide them with the best possible cancer care. The Pediatric Oncology Unit of Turin has welcomed 60 Ukrainians who are patients, caregivers and siblings. This report underlines the activities that have been implemented to offer this new type of patient the best possible care.