Posttraumatic stress disorder associated with cancer experiences

Abstract

Abstract There are debates about whether cancer should be conceptualised as trauma. Nevertheless, cancer-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is related to certain patient demographic variables, gender differences, patients’ psychiatric history, previous traumatic life events, experiences with diagnosis, treatment, pre-transplant preparation time, and hospitalisation. Patients’ subjective appraisal or perception of a life threat from cancer also play a role in influencing PTSD symptoms, other psychiatric symptoms, and adjustment to cancer. Feeling uncertain about the impact of cancer, fear of cancer progression, and intrusive cancer-related ruminations can also influence cancer-related symptoms. In addition, the way patients cope with distress may also influence PTSD. Several coping strategies have been suggested. To conclude, a number of treatments for cancer-related PTSD are described, including eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapies, and others.