Psychological Distress in Outpatient Oncological Rehabilitation

Psychological distress in cancer patients is higher than in the average population and is associated with a lower health-related quality of life. In the course of the disease and its treatment, a psychological distress reaction can lead to a psychosocial crisis and a mental disorder that requires treatment. On average, 25% of all cancer patients suffer from depression, anxiety or adjustment disorders at any point in the course of their disease, and an average of 32% of all cancer patients express the need for psychosocial support. With an increasing reduction in inpatient length of stay times, outpatient care gains growing importance in the context of psycho-oncological diagnostics and aftercare. The overlap between physical symptoms due to cancer diagnosis and treatment and physical symptoms that are related to psychological burdens requires sensitive psycho-oncological diagnostics. This should be carried out as early as possible in the course of the disease so that existing psychological distress can be recognized early and thus a progression of the symptoms can be prevented.

The study aims to assess psychological distress and co-morbidity as well as relevant sociodemographic, anthropometric, medical and functional data in patients treated at the Outpatient Clinic for Oncological Rehabilitation at the Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna.

Results should serve as a basis for further individual treatment recommendations.

By ascertaining the psychological distress, appropriate support and treatment measures can be recommended to the patients at an early stage, which help to improve the symptoms, enable participation and thus improve the quality of life of the patients. The assessment of the current individual need for psychological care also helps to refer patients to an inpatient oncological rehabilitation setting that provides the care that is needed more appropriately.

Results should also improve the psychological care of oncologic patients in general. Based on the findings, the psychological care offered within the framework of the current outpatient and inpatient oncological rehabilitation setting could be adapted and expanded as necessary. The results of the study should serve to integrate psycho-oncological care into the overall outpatient oncological rehabilitation concept.

A monocentric cross-sectional study is to be carried out on 165 patients with malignant tumour diseases as well as benign central nervous system tumours over a period of approximately 2 years.

Medical assessment of sociodemographic, anthropometric, medical and functional data will be performed. The gained information is also relevant for physical therapy prescription and treatment recommendations given by the physiatrist at the outpatient clinic for oncological rehabilitation.

Psychological distress and the need for psycho-oncological care for outpatients is determined through standardized screening and suitable assessment procedures. Patients will receive an immediate therapy recommendation regarding their psychological complaints by the clinical psychologist and psychotherapist who performs the assessment.