PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT TO AN AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT UNIT INA COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL - A PILOT EXPERIENCE

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation (AuBMT) has emerged as an effic acious treatment for certain hematological and solid tumors. Some of t he complications of allogeneic transplants are avoided with an autolog ous transplant. Due to the decreased toxicity of this procedure, AuBMT can be administered at a community hospital where the setting is less burdensome for patients and families. The latter can continue to prov ide support for the patient as relocation is not necessary and visitin g is easier. This report is a case analysis of the first 30 patients t o undergo an autologous transplant as a pilot study in such an environ ment. This pilot project-done in a community hospital in Connecticut-m ay provide cost effective, high quality care in a more personal enviro nment in the patient's own community. The different neoplastic diagnos es are listed as well as the types of psychological interventions avai lable for these patients. Two case studies are described for clinical illustration. A discussion presents how psyche-oncology can assist the multidisciplinary team. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.