Le. Carlson et al., Partners of cancer patients: Part I. Impact, adjustment, and coping acrossthe illness trajectory, J PSYCH ONC, 18(2), 2000, pp. 39-63
Because the importance of partners' role in determining the adjustment of p
atients with cancer has become increasingly evident, partners have become t
he target of studies more extensively in recent years. It also is apparent
that partners often suffer more psychological distress from the impact of t
he diagnosis than patients do. This two-part review identifies three areas
of research that have not been integrated in the literature: (1) the impact
of cancer on the partner across different stages of the illness trajectory
, (2) gender differences in partners' reactions and adjustment, and (3) psy
chosocial interventions for partners. Part I focuses on the experience of c
ancer patients' partners, how the illness affects them, and how they adjust
to and cope with the illness. Part II will review the interventions that h
ave been developed to help patients' partners and conclude with suggestions
for providing interventions specifically tailored for different population
s of partners.