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Kanser Tedavisinde Psikoterapötik Desteğin Önemi ve Türkiye Açısından Bir Durum Değerlendirmesi

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 35 - 38, 25.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1794506
https://izlik.org/JA77SL55MS

Abstract

Kanser, yalnızca biyolojik süreçleri değil, aynı zamanda bireyin duygusal, sosyal ve varoluşsal alanlarını da etkileyen çok boyutlu ve zorlu bir yaşam deneyimidir. Güncel uluslararası rehberler, psikolojik desteğin biyomedikal tedavinin temel bir bileşeni olarak değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Araştırmalar, kanser hastalarında depresyon, anksiyete ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğu oranlarının yüksek olduğunu, psikoterapötik müdahalelerin semptom yükünü azaltarak yaşam işlevselliğini iyileştirdiğini ve tedavi motivasyonunu artırdığını göstermektedir. Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi ve Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi ise bu alanda en güçlü kanıt desteğine sahip yaklaşımlar olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, birçok ülkede, özellikle de Türkiye bağlamında, kanser hastalarına yönelik psikoterapötik destek hizmetlerinin sunumunda belirgin boşluklar bulunmaktadır.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma editöre mektup türünde olup etik kurul onayı gerektirmemektedir.

References

  • Burns, M. F., Secinti, E., Johns, S. A., Wu, W., Helft, P. R., Turk, A. A., Loehrer, P. J., Sr, Sehdev, A., Al-Hader, A. A., & Mosher, C. E. (2023). Impact of acceptance and commitment therapy on physical and psychological symptoms in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and caregivers: Secondary results of a pilot randomized trial. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 27, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.01.001
  • Cakmak, S., Cincin, M., & Kocatepe Avci, U. (2021). Association of cancer response styles and alexithymia with posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients. Düşünen Adam: Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 34(3), 278–288. https://doi.org/10.14744/DAJPNS.2021.00147
  • Getie, A., Ayalneh, M., & Bimerew, M. (2025). Global prevalence and determinant factors of pain, depression, and anxiety among cancer patients: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06599-5
  • Kotan, Z. (2024). Ankara Psikoonkoloji Derneği. In G. Gürcan (Ed.), Konsültasyon ve liyezon psikiyatrisi  sempozyumu (pp. 31–35). TOBB ETÜ Yayınları.
  • Liu, T., Xu, J., Cheng, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Lin, L., & Tian, L. (2022). Effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 79, 135-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.09.003
  • Paslaru, A. M., Plesea-Condratovici, A., Moroianu, L.-A., Isailă, O.-M., Rebegea, L. F., Pavel, L. L.,  & Ciubară, A. (2025). Mind over Malignancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological  distress, coping, and therapeutic interventions in oncology. Medicina, 61(6), 1086.  https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61061086
  • Signorelli, C., Hart, N. H., Mullen, L., Nekhlyudov, L., Travado, L., Lam, W. W. T., Henry, M., Dégi, C.L., Haywood, D., & Jefford, M. (2024). Aligning the World Health Organization’s (WHO) package of interventions for rehabilitation for cancer with the mission of the International Psycho-Oncology Society’s: Promoting psychosocial care for all people affected by cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 6(4), 144. https://doi.org/10.1097/OR9.0000000000000144
  • Tang, L., Wu, S., Li, X., Cao, Y., Chen, X., Cheng, H., Chi, T., He, Y., Hu, J., Jiang, Q., Jiang, Y., Li, Z., Liu, A., Liu, F., Liu, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Lv, X., … Zhou, X. (2025). CACA clinical guideline of holistic psychosocial care for cancer patients. Holistic Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-025-00164-6
  • Tian, X., Zhou, X., Sun, M., Yu, N. X., Peng, Y., Zheng, X., & Xiao, W. (2024). The effectiveness of positive  psychological interventions for patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(9):3752-3774. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17358
  • Xiang, L., Wan, H., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on resilience among adult cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 204. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06628-3
  • Yıldırım, N., Güner, P., & İnci, F. (2024). Psychosocial services provided to cancer patients and nurses’ difficulties in psychosocial assessment and intervention: A nationwide study. Journal of Nursology, 27(2), 101-110. https://doi.org/10.17049/jnursology.1425828
  • Zhang, Y., Flannery, M., Zhang, Z., Underhill-Blazey, M., Bobry, M., Leblanc, N., Rodriguez, D., & Zhang, C. (2024). Digital health psychosocial intervention in adult patients with cancer and their families: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Cancer, 10, e46116. https://doi.org/10.2196/46116
  • Zhang, X., Yuan., M., Yue, Y., & Duan, X. (2025). Fear of cancer recurrence and coping strategies among patients with oral cancer: The impact on post-traumatic growth. BMC Psychology, 13(1):162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02499-1

The Importance of Psychotherapeutic Support in Cancer Treatment and a Situation Analysis for Turkiye

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 35 - 38, 25.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1794506
https://izlik.org/JA77SL55MS

Abstract

Cancer is a multidimensional and challenging life experience that affects not only biological processes but also the emotional, social, and existential domains of the individual. Recent international guidelines emphasize that psychosocial support should be considered a fundamental component of biomedical treatment. Research indicates that cancer patients have high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and that psychotherapeutic interventions reduce symptom burden, improve life functioning, and enhance treatment motivation. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy stand out as the approaches with the strongest evidence base in this field. However, in many countries, particularly in the context of Türkiye, there are significant gaps in the provision of psychotherapeutic support services for cancer patients.

Ethical Statement

This study is a letter to the editor and does not require ethics committee approval.

References

  • Burns, M. F., Secinti, E., Johns, S. A., Wu, W., Helft, P. R., Turk, A. A., Loehrer, P. J., Sr, Sehdev, A., Al-Hader, A. A., & Mosher, C. E. (2023). Impact of acceptance and commitment therapy on physical and psychological symptoms in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and caregivers: Secondary results of a pilot randomized trial. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 27, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.01.001
  • Cakmak, S., Cincin, M., & Kocatepe Avci, U. (2021). Association of cancer response styles and alexithymia with posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients. Düşünen Adam: Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 34(3), 278–288. https://doi.org/10.14744/DAJPNS.2021.00147
  • Getie, A., Ayalneh, M., & Bimerew, M. (2025). Global prevalence and determinant factors of pain, depression, and anxiety among cancer patients: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06599-5
  • Kotan, Z. (2024). Ankara Psikoonkoloji Derneği. In G. Gürcan (Ed.), Konsültasyon ve liyezon psikiyatrisi  sempozyumu (pp. 31–35). TOBB ETÜ Yayınları.
  • Liu, T., Xu, J., Cheng, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Lin, L., & Tian, L. (2022). Effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 79, 135-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.09.003
  • Paslaru, A. M., Plesea-Condratovici, A., Moroianu, L.-A., Isailă, O.-M., Rebegea, L. F., Pavel, L. L.,  & Ciubară, A. (2025). Mind over Malignancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological  distress, coping, and therapeutic interventions in oncology. Medicina, 61(6), 1086.  https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61061086
  • Signorelli, C., Hart, N. H., Mullen, L., Nekhlyudov, L., Travado, L., Lam, W. W. T., Henry, M., Dégi, C.L., Haywood, D., & Jefford, M. (2024). Aligning the World Health Organization’s (WHO) package of interventions for rehabilitation for cancer with the mission of the International Psycho-Oncology Society’s: Promoting psychosocial care for all people affected by cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 6(4), 144. https://doi.org/10.1097/OR9.0000000000000144
  • Tang, L., Wu, S., Li, X., Cao, Y., Chen, X., Cheng, H., Chi, T., He, Y., Hu, J., Jiang, Q., Jiang, Y., Li, Z., Liu, A., Liu, F., Liu, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Lv, X., … Zhou, X. (2025). CACA clinical guideline of holistic psychosocial care for cancer patients. Holistic Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-025-00164-6
  • Tian, X., Zhou, X., Sun, M., Yu, N. X., Peng, Y., Zheng, X., & Xiao, W. (2024). The effectiveness of positive  psychological interventions for patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(9):3752-3774. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17358
  • Xiang, L., Wan, H., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on resilience among adult cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 204. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06628-3
  • Yıldırım, N., Güner, P., & İnci, F. (2024). Psychosocial services provided to cancer patients and nurses’ difficulties in psychosocial assessment and intervention: A nationwide study. Journal of Nursology, 27(2), 101-110. https://doi.org/10.17049/jnursology.1425828
  • Zhang, Y., Flannery, M., Zhang, Z., Underhill-Blazey, M., Bobry, M., Leblanc, N., Rodriguez, D., & Zhang, C. (2024). Digital health psychosocial intervention in adult patients with cancer and their families: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Cancer, 10, e46116. https://doi.org/10.2196/46116
  • Zhang, X., Yuan., M., Yue, Y., & Duan, X. (2025). Fear of cancer recurrence and coping strategies among patients with oral cancer: The impact on post-traumatic growth. BMC Psychology, 13(1):162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02499-1
There are 13 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other), Preventative Health Care, Health Promotion
Journal Section Letter to Editor
Authors

Ozan Kayar 0000-0002-1269-3719

Submission Date October 1, 2025
Acceptance Date November 3, 2025
Publication Date February 25, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1794506
IZ https://izlik.org/JA77SL55MS
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kayar, O. (2026). Kanser Tedavisinde Psikoterapötik Desteğin Önemi ve Türkiye Açısından Bir Durum Değerlendirmesi. Turkish Medical Journal, 11(1), 35-38. https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1794506

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