Le. Carlson et al., Partners of cancer patients: Part II. Current psychosocial interventions and suggestions for improvement, J PSYCH ONC, 18(3), 2000, pp. 33-43
Although the adjustment of cancer patients' partners has been studied more
extensively in;recent years than previously, three areas of research have n
ot been integrated into the literature: (1) the impact of cancer on the par
tner across different stages of the illness trajectory, (2) gender differen
ces in partner's reactions and adjustment, and (3) psychosocial interventio
ns for partners. In Part I of their review, the authors discussed the partn
ers' experiences, how the illness affected partners, and how partners adjus
ted to and coped with the patient's illness. Part II reviews the interventi
ons that have been developed to help patients' partners and concludes with
suggestions for providing interventions tailored specifically for different
populations of partners.