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Abstract Background There is a lack of psychotherapeutic trials of treatments of comorbid depression in cancer patients. Our study determines the efficacy of a manualized short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and predictors of outcome by personality and quality of the therapeutic relationship. Methods/design Eligible breast cancer patients with comorbid depression are assigned to short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (up to 20 + 5 sessions) or to treatment as usual (augmented by recommendation for counseling center and physician information). We plan to recruit a total of 180 patients (90 per arm) in two centers. Assessments are conducted pretreatment, after 6 (treatment termination) and 12 months (follow-up). The primary outcome measures are reduction of the depression score in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and remission of depression as assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Disorders by independent, blinded assessors at treatment termination. Secondary outcomes refer to quality of life. Discussion We investigate the efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in acute care and we aim to identify predictors for acceptance and success of treatment. Trial registration ISRCTN96793588

The objective of this study was to analyse whether general self‐efficacy and resilient coping are negatively impacted when people are sick with cancer (compared with people from the general population), and whether these resource variables predict quality of life outcomes in that patient group. A sample of 959 patients recruited in an oncologic rehabilitation clinic was examined once while hospitalised and once again six months thereafter. The outcome variables were quality of life (EORTC QLQ‐C30) and distress (PHQ‐4). The resource variables were self‐efficacy (General Self‐Efficacy Scale) and resilient coping (Brief Resilient Coping Scale). Representative samples of the general population served as controls. Self‐efficacy (d = 0.08) and resilient coping (d = 0.28) were only slightly lower in the patients' sample than in the general population. Both resource variables were associated with quality of life, but self‐efficacy (and not resilient coping) was the only independent predictor of quality of life functioning scales and distress scores when the baseline values of the dependent variables were also taken into account. Strengthening patients' belief in their own ability to cope with the disease may help them retain and/or regain a higher level of quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Quality assurance has become increasingly relevant in the field of outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling. At the same time, no studies are currently available that analyze outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling centers in Germany with respect to standards of service quality. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether these centers meet selected quality criteria of outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling., Methods: Based on quality standards of outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling previously developed by us in a Delphi study, we surveyed 106 out of 151 German psychosocial outpatient cancer counseling centers registered in a publicly accessible data base of Germany's cancer information service in Heidelberg with respect to the selected quality characteristics. Data analysis used descriptive statistical techniques., Results: The centers of the sample differ in how many of them fulfill the quality standards selected for analysis here. More than 90% provide the services described by the standards as required. In contrast, in the personnel domain, there appears to be room for improvement with respect to the amount of service hours available for psychologists and the number of counselors with advanced training in psycho-oncology. Also, external supervision and case conferences turn out to be quality characteristics with room for improvement in the domain of quality assurance as do distress screening in the domain of diagnostics and using systematic documentation., Conclusion: Referring to recent standards of quality of outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling allowed us to delineate strength and weaknesses that may serve as starting points for quality improvement in the centers providing psychosocial cancer counseling. However, further research is necessary to arrive at a more comprehensive picture of the degree to which outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling centers in Germany comply with current standards of service quality., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Aim of the study was to provide information about the prevalence of cancer related fatigue and the association between treatment-related factors and fatigue in cancer patients during the rehabilitation care. In a multicenter study 693 cancer patients (27% breast cancer, 17% prostate cancer etc.) completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and sociodemographic and treatment information was noted. 51% of the patients suffer from fatigue (n=356). Fatigue prevalence differed according to tumour localization (p≤0.001). There was a substantial association between fatigue and treatment condition in terms of the combination of surgery and radiation (p≤0.05). Fatigue was high prevalent in patients in the rehabilitation care. Thus, fatigue should be routinely screened and after differentiated diagnostics be considered in rehabilitation care plans., Competing Interests: Interessenkonflikt: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenskonflikt besteht., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Psychosocial cancer counseling centers represent an increasingly important part of comprehensive psychosocial cancer care. Research on the services provided by those centers is sparse, however, as is research on person-, disease-, and treatment-related characteristics of their clients. Therefore, the present study analyzes the services provided by 26 psychosocial cancer counseling centers temporarily being funded by the German Cancer Aid as well as selected characteristics of their clients. Analyses are based on data collected during 2011 by means of a documentation system specifically designed for the purposes of psychosocial cancer counseling. Testing focuses on whether cancer patients and cancer patients' relatives differ with respect to various characteristics and the services used. The results show that psychosocial and benefit counseling represent a major part of counseling services, followed by giving information and employing relaxation techniques. Clients seek counseling primarily in early phases of disease and treatment. Women with breast cancer are over-represented among clients. Analyses also reveal significant differences between cancer patients and patients' relatives. Psychotherapeutic interventions and grief-counseling are more frequent in counseling relatives, whereas benefit counseling is more frequent in working with patients. The results emphasize the relevance of outpatient psychosocial cancer counseling. They may also help support initiatives aiming at establishing psychosocial cancer counseling targeted to the needs of each individual client., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: This article presents results of a user-based cross-sectional study about patient reported needs and its consideration in the course of outpatient psychosocial counseling. In addition, patient satisfaction with consultations was evaluated., Method: A sample of 1 930 cancer patients or family caregivers who consulted one of 26 psychosocial counseling units funded by German Cancer Aid completed a questionnaire sent by mail., Results: Younger and female patients/care-givers, and those with ovarian, pancreatic and cns tumours were more likely to seek counseling. Overall, patient reported needs were met to a high degree. The majority of the participants was very satisfied with different aspects of counseling. However, 16% of participants reported unmet needs and had suggestions for improvements primarily with regard to the counselor (4% of the participants) and time management (2% of the participants). In addition, 10% of the participants suggested optimizing the counseling location and setting as well as the accessibility, time scheduling and the work approach of the staff (1-5%)., Discussion: Our findings represent a part of the core evaluation of psychosocial counseling for cancer patients. Overall, it can be highlighted that cancer patients are very satisfied with outpatient psychosocial counseling offers. However, few critical aspects could be identified from the clients' perspective. Our results are discussed in the context of methodological aspects of the study., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Goal of the KoMPASS project is to develop and test a training program that effectively improves oncologists' communication skills. The training draws with regard to concept, content and didactic methods to the specific challenges arising in interactions with cancer patients. Concept and didactical methods for an intensive training (KoMPASS Training) are being presented and complemented with experiences gathered during 39 trainings with 335 physicians, as well as findings from the training evaluation by participants. The participants' feedback after 4 months indicates successful transfer into clinical practice along with personal relief, improved self-efficacy, and communicative competencies. Even experienced practitioners ascribe high practical usefulness, and personal learning achievements to the KoMPASS training. The results of the concomitant study concerning self-efficacy, empathy, work-related stress and communicative competence will be published later., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)