Abstract
Psycho-oncology has been developed all over the world since its conception in the US in the 1970s and this plays an important role in the clinical oncology of today. In this paper, past findings regarding psycho-oncology are reviewed and the relationship between psycho-oncology and psychosomatic medicine is discussed. The role of psycho-oncology in each clinical stage ; three major psychological distress of cancer patients-adjustment disorders, depression and delirium ; and several psychosocial interventions aimed at improving of the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients are outlined. The collaboration between psycho-oncology and psychosomatic medicine in both clinical and research fields should be promoted in order to improve the QOL of cancer patients, their family members and medical staff.
