Abstract
Brain tumors have special oncological significance. The prognosis of brain tumors is mostly poor, and they are also connected to functional and cognitive deficiencies, as well as possible personality changes. Therefore, the social impact of the disease has special significance as it also affects family and friends of patients with brain tumors. This review focuses on different professional arenas that can psychologically facilitate for the patient and/or for their next of kin. The different arenas discussed are: the patient-physician relationship, the specialist nurse function, functional and cognitive rehabilitative efforts, and support groups. The patient-physician relationship is important, but there is a lack of knowledge of its psychological impact outside of information giving. The few studies conducted on the specialist nurse function are quite unanimous about its facilitating value and this mainly seems to pertain to the next of kin. Functional rehabilitative efforts seem to be worthy, but even if there are promising results, there is still lack of knowledge of the potential of cognitive rehabilitation. Although there is a long history of peer support groups for patients with brain tumors, we do not know enough about the potential in professionally initiated supportive groups or different Internet forums. When initiating further studies within the different arenas for the purpose of understanding how to facilitate for patients with brain tumors and their families, we should also consider the psychological meaning of the activity/intervention.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brandes AA, Tosoni A, Franceschi E, Reni M, Gatta G, Vecht C. Glioblastoma in adults. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2008;67:139–152.
Douw L, Klein M, Fagel SSAA, et al. Cognitive and radiological effects of radiotherapy in patients with low-grade glioma: long-term follow-up. Lancet Neurol. 2009;8:810–818.
Salander P, Bergenheim AT, Hamberg K, Henriksson R. Pathways from symptoms to medical care: a descriptive study of symptom-development and obstacles to early diagnosis in brain tumour patients. Fam Pract. 1999;16:143–148.
Taphoorn MJB, Klein M. Cognitive deficits in adult patients with brain tumours. Lancet. 2004;3:159–168.
Davies E, Hall S, Clark C. Two year survival after malignant cerebral glioma: patient and relative-reports of handicap, psychiatric symptoms and rehabilitation. Disabil Rehab. 2003;25:259–266.
Salander P. Brain tumour as a threat to life and personality: the spouse’s perspective. J Psychosoc Oncol. 1996;14:1–18.
Wideheim A-K, Edvardsson T, Påhlson A, Ahlström G. A family’s perspective on living with a highly malignant brain tumor. Cancer Nurs. 2002;25:236–244.
Sherwood PR, Given BA, Doorenbos AZ, Given CW. Forgotten voices: lessons from bereaved caregivers of persons with a brain tumour. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2004;10:67–75.
Khalili Y. Ongoing transitions: the impact of a malignant brain tumour on patient and family. Axon. 2007;28:5–13.
Leboeuf I. Impact of a family-centered approach on a couple living with a brain tumour: a case study. Axon. 2000;22:24–31.
Garssen B, de Kok E. How useful is a screening instrument. Psycho-oncology. 2008;17:726–728.
Merckaert I, Libert Y, Messin S, Milani M, Slachmuylder J-L, Razavi D. Cancer patients’ desire for psychological support: prevalence and implications for screening patients’ psychological needs. Psychooncology. 2009;19:141–149.
Salander P. Motives that cancer patients in oncological care have for consulting a psychologist - an empirical study. Psychooncology. 2009; [Epub ahead of print]
Davies E, Higginson IJ. Communication, information and support for adults with malignant cerebral glioma: a systematic literature review. Support Care Cancer. 2003;11:21–29.
Catt S, Chalmers A, Fallowfield L. Psychosocial and supportive-care needs in high-grade glioma. Lancet Oncol. 2008;9:884–891.
Giordana MT, Clara E. Functional rehabilitation and brain tumour patients. A review of outcome. Neurol Sci. 2006;27:240–244.
Gehring K, Sitskoorn MM, Aaronson NK, Taphoorn MJB. Interventions for cognitive deficits in adults with brain tumours. Lancet Neurol. 2008;7:548–560.
Kowal J, Johnson SM, Lee A. Chronic illness in couples: a case for emotionally focused therapy. J Marital Family Ther. 2003;29:2099–2310.
Tepper S. A model for care: a transitions program designed to provide comprehensive care in treating individuals with malignant brain tumors. Smith Coll Stud Social Work. 2003;73:337–357.
Spetz S, Henriksson R, Salander P. A specialist nurse as a resource for family members to patients with brain tumours. Cancer Nurs. 2008;31:E18–E26.
Geler-Kulcu D, Gulsen G, Buyukbaba E, Ozkan D. Functional recovery of patients with brain tumor or acute stroke after rehabilitation: a comparative study. J Clin Neurosci. 2009;16:74–78.
Pace A, Parisi C, DiLelio M, et al. Home rehabilitation for brain tumor patients. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2007;26:297–300.
Locke DEC, Cerhan JH, Wenting W, et al. Cognitive rehabilitation and problem-solving to improve quality of life of patients with primary brain tumors: a pilot study. J Support Oncol. 2008;6:383–391.
Gehring K, Sitskoorn MM, Gundy CM, et al. Cognitive rehabilitation in patients with gliomas: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27:3712–3722.
Duval J, Coyette F, Seron X. Rehabilitation of the central executive component of working memory: a re-organisation approach applied to a single case. Neuropsychol Rehab. 2008;18:430–460.
Salander P, Bergenheim T, Henriksson R. The creation of protection and hope in patients with malignant brain tumours. Soc Sci Med. 1996;42:985–996.
Clayton J, Hancock K, Parker S, et al. Sustaining hope when communicating with terminally ill patients and their families: a systematic review. Psychooncology. 2008;17:641–659.
Fallowfield L, Jenkins V. Communicating sad, bad and difficult news in medicine. Lancet 2004;363:312–319.
Wong F, Stewart D, Dancey J, et al. Men with prostate cancer: influence of psychological factors on informational needs and decision making. J Psychosom Res. 2000;49:13–19.
Kaplowitz SA, Cambo S, Chiu, WT. Cancer patients’ desires for communication of prognosis information. Health Commun. 2002;14:221–241.
Leydon GM, Boulton M, Moynihan C, et al. Cancer patients’ information needs and information seeking behaviour: in depth interview study. BMJ 2000;320:909–913.
Halkett GKB, Lobb EA, Oldham L, Nowak AK. The information and support needs of patients diagnosed with high grade glioma. Patient Educ Couns. 2009; [Epub ahead of print]
Horowitz S, Passik SD, Malkin MG. “In sickness as in health”: a group intervention for spouses caring for patients with brain tumors. J Psychosoc Oncol. 1996;14:43–56.
James ND, Guerro D, Brada M. Who should follow up cancer patients? Nurse specialist based outpatient care and the introduction of a phone clinic system. Clin Oncol. 1994;6:283–287.
Sardell S, Sharpe S, Ashley D, Guerro D, Brada M. Evaluation of a nurse-led telephone clinic in the follow-up of patients with malignant glioma. Clin Oncol. 2000;12:36–41.
Curren JR. Support needs of brain tumour patients and their carers: the place if a telephone interview. Int J Palliat Care. 2001;7:331–337.
Spetz, Bergenheim AT, Henriksson R, Salander P. A specialist nurse-function in neurooncology: a qualitative study of possibilities, limitations and pitfalls. Palliat Support Care. 2005;3:121–130.
Janda M, Eakin EG, Bailey L, Walker D, Troy K. Supportive care needs of people with brain tumours and their carers. Support Care Cancer. 2006;14:1094–1103.
Salander P, Bergenheim T, Henriksson R. How was life after treatment of a malignant brain tumour? Soc Sci Med. 2000;51:589–598.
Bury M. Chronic illness as biographical disruption. Sociol Health Ill. 1982;4:168–182.
Huang ME, Wartella J, Kreutzer J, Broaddus W, Lyckholm L. Functional outcomes and quality of life in patients with brain tumors: a review of the literature. Brain Injury. 2001;15:843–856.
Huang ME, Cifu DX, Keyser-Marcus L. Functional outcome in patients with brain tumors following inpatient rehabilitation. Am J Phys Med Rehab. 2000;79:327–335.
Huang ME, Wartella JE, Kreutzer JS. Functional outcomes and quality of life in patients with brain tumors: a preliminary report. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2001;82:1540–1546.
Marciniak CM, Sliwa JA, Heinemann AW, Semik PE. Functional outcomes of persons with brain tumors after inpatient rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2001;82:457–463.
Greenberg E, Treger I, Ring H. Rehabilitation outcomes in patients with brain tumors and acute stroke: comparative study of inpatient rehabilitation. Am J Phys Med Rehab. 2006;85:568–573.
Sherer M, Meyers CA, Bergloff P. Efficacy of postacute brain injury rehabilitation for patients with primary malignant brain tumors. Cancer. 1997;80:250–257.
Fobair P. Cancer support groups and group therapies. J Psychosoc Oncol. 1997;15:63–81.
Usher J, Kirsten L, Butow P, Sandoval M. What do support groups provide which other relationships do not? The experience of peer support groups for people with cancer. Soc Sci Med. 2006;62:2565–2576.
Leavitt MB, Lamb SA, Voss BS. Brain tumor support group: content themes and mechanisms of support. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1996;23:1247–1256.
Edvardsson T, Ahlström G. Being the next of kin of a patient with a low-grade glioma. Psychooncology. 2008;17:584–591.
Klemm P, Bunnell D, Cullen M, et al. Online cancer support groups - a review of the research literature. Comput Inform Nurs. 2003;21:135–142.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salander, P. Facilitating interventions and/or relationships in malignant brain tumors. Adv Therapy 27, 17–27 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-010-0003-z
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-010-0003-z