Oxford Guide to CBT for People with Cancer

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has established itself as the psychological treatment of choice for many conditions. It offers a brief, convincing, common sense approach to the emotional problems faced by people with cancer, and there is considerable evidence for its effectiveness. Using a cognitive behavioural model to understand reactions to cancer, the authors present cognitive, behavioural, emotional and interpersonal interventions to help people adjust to the threat to their life and their view of themselves. Case examples illustrate how these techniques are used to reduce anxiety and depression, induce a fighting spirit, teach effective coping skills and develop open communication between patients and their partners.

Now part of the Oxford Guide to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy series, this new edition has been updated in light of new clinical and research findings in the fields of psycho-oncology and cognitive behaviour therapy over the last 10 years. Mental health professionals working in oncology and health care professionals interested in psychological management will find this a useful source for psychological techniques that can be applied in a busy clinical setting.

Part One: The Psychology of Cancer
1. What people with cancer feel
2. A cognitive model of adjustment to cancer
3. Can cognitive behaviour therapy improve quality of life?
4. Can psychological therapy affect duration of survival?
Part Two: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People with Cancer
5. Overview of therapy
6. The therapy session
7. Experiencing and expressing emotions in adjuvant psychological therapy
8. Behavioural techniques
9. Cognitive techniques I: Basic cognitive techniques
10. Cognitive techniques II: Working with anxiety and depression
11. Applications of cognitive and behavioural techniques to common problems
12. Cancer in context: Working with underlying beliefs and assumptions
13. Working with couples
14. Cognitive behaviour therapy in advanced and terminal illness
15. Prolonged grief disorder among bereaved primary carers
16. Group therapy
17. Concluding remarks
Appendices
1. Coping with Cancer
2. Thinking Errors
3. Weekly Activity Schedule
4. Thought Record
5a. Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale
5b. Courtauld Emotional Control Scale
5c. Cancer Coping Questionnaire
5d. Cancer Concerns Checklist
References