Mental health needs in cancer - a call for change

Caring for Veterans With Depression and Cancer: An Overview for Civilian Nurse Clinicians

PURPOSE

Veterans put their lives on the line to serve our country, but their well-being is often threatened by multifaceted health issues related to military service, including elevated rates of lung cancer and depression. A significant percentage of Veterans have lost faith in mental health care or are unable to breach stigma-related barriers to seek and engage in this care. Veterans' lack of trust can be exacerbated by community mental health clinicians who have had little experience with Veterans and feel inadequately prepared to address their complex needs.

METHOD

The following databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Google Scholar; as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

RESULTS

Results indicated that 50% of Veterans use civilian health care and perceive that civilian nurses lack knowledge of military culture and related trauma.

CONCLUSION

The current review offers civilian mental health professionals an overview of Veterans' unique issues and provides resources and practical suggestions for helping them overcome barriers to mental health care. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 63(1), 13-22.].

The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy in cancer-related symptom management: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) as a psychoeducational support intervention has gained an increasing attention for alleviating complications associated with cancer. The aim of this review was to integrate and synthesize scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of SFT in the management of cancer-related symptoms.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted, encompassing the exploration of five online databases-Web of Science, PubMed (including MEDLINE), CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. Articles published from inception to December 2023 were retrieved. The review included all clinical trials and similar interventional studies assessing the impact of SFT on cancer-related symptoms. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies following quality appraisals using appropriate methodological tools. The review results were presented in a narrative format due to the impossibility of conducting a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 239 studies were identified during the search process, of which eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The overall sample size comprised 555 patients with cancer that were mostly female (n = 386). Four studies employed randomized controlled trials (RCT), while the remaining four utilized the non-RCT method. SFT-based interventions demonstrated effectiveness in addressing stress, anxiety, depression, somatization, cancer-related fatigue, pain catastrophizing, and negative coping. Additionally, they improved psychological well-being, hope, positive coping, self-efficacy, quality of life, and sexual quality of life among cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Various SFT-based interventions have been shown to be effective in managing cancer-related symptoms and can be considered valuable additions to routine care, complementing medication therapy and other therapeutic measures to alleviate patients' suffering associated with cancer. Systematic review registration number (PROSPERO): CRD42023413910.