IMPROVING QUALITY-OF-LIFE - ADJUVANT PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH CANCER

The present paper describes a psychological treatment programme - Adju vant Psychological Therapy (APT) - that has been developed specificall y for patients with cancer-related psychosocial disorders. APT is brie f (average six sessions), directed at current problems and conducted w ith individual patients together with their partners or spouses, if po ssible. Therapy focuses on the personal meaning of cancer to the patie nt and his or her coping strategies. An outline of APT together with a clinical ilustration is given. A randomised trial has demonstrated th at APT produces significant improvement in psychological distress and thus in the quality of life of patients with cancer.