Volume 29, Issue 3
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.708
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Improving Distress in Pediatric Oncology: A Pilot Study
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the psychological profile of oncology patients and to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral treatment aimed to improve coping of pain and anxiety in childhood and youth cancer patients. The sample was of 12 patients, between 9 and 14 years diagnosed with cancer, to whom a protocol of psychological treatment was applied, with a duration of seven sessions that were carried out during the hospital admissions. There was a significant reduction in anxiety and an increase in positive affect levels. In individuals with high scores on the emotionality and extraversion scale, higher levels of post-treatment anxiety were found. These results provide evidence of the importance of applying treatments focused on treating the psycho-emotional effects in children with cancer.
Keywords
Oncology, Childhood, Distress, Cognitive-behavioral Treatment