Clinical Psychology Health Analysis - Essay Example

Running head: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH ASSIGNMENT Clinical Psychology Health Assignment The aim of the paper is to critically evaluate the statement, “it is at least ridiculous to believe that psychologists can prevent cancer”. For the purpose of the current assignment, a detailed literature review is performed to evaluate the relevance of the proposed statement. Two themes of analysis are being discussed: the role of psychology in mediating the emotional effects of cancer on individuals and the role of psychology in developing more rational individual attitudes toward healthy lifestyles and rational self-assessment behaviors. The paper confirms that the current state of research does not provide evidence to assert that psychologists can prevent cancer. Limitations of the current research are discussed. Clinical Psychology Health Assignment The cognitive and emotional experience of cancer is associated with a broad range of reactions, from fear and anger to reconciliation and hope. Throughout the development of psychology science, cancer had always been one of the most problematic and challenging aspects of psychological strategies. Based on what the current research tells us, it is at least ridiculous to believe that psychologists can prevent cancer: they can either effectively alleviate the emotional and cognitive difficulties that necessarily emerge the moment the individual is being diagnosed with cancer, or contribute to the development of rational self-assessment and medical evaluation behaviors, which will help individuals, especially those with the genetic predisposition to cancer, to reduce the risks of being diagnosed with cancer when it is too late. Psychology of Cancer: Is There Any Link? The question of whether psychologists can prevent cancer is actually a question of whether psychology and individuals’ mental health are the basic predictors of cancer in various groups of patients. Postmodern medical science displays the tendency toward recognizing mental health conditions and complications as important contributors to other complex health states like asthma, diabetes, and even peptic ulcers (Nevid, 2008). Stress is cited among the most widely spread chronic health conditions that add their share of complexity to coronary heart disease and regular headaches (Nevid, 2008). For this reason, psychologists could provide individuals with effective support and reduce the risks of asthma and cardiovascular diseases associated with stress. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question of whether cancer is the result of psychological influences. The extensive body of research proves psychology counseling to be an effective instrument of alleviating emotional and cognitive sufferings in patients with diagnosed cancer. However, based on what researchers tell us, it is at least ridiculous to believe that psychologists could prevent cancer. Psychology could become a viable solution to the emotional problems of cancer patients and have a potential to contribute to the development of rational self-assessment and screening behaviors in individuals. Psychology and Cancer: Alleviating Emotional Sufferings It is at least ridiculous to believe that psychologists could prevent cancer. However, that psychology is an effective countermeasure against emotional and cognitive sufferings which individuals experience upon being diagnosed with cancer is a well-known fact. These psychological interventions are equally effective at the earliest stages of cancer and after chemotherapy and surgeries and can reduce the risks of mortality and improve the well-being of cancer patients. The fact is in that patients who are being diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses have to cope with both the emotional consequences of the diagnosis and its physiological effects, including nausea, fatigue, weight gain and concerns about future cancer recurrence (Manne et al. 2005). In this sense, psychologists provide cancer patients with the opportunities to reduce their concerns, to improve their emotional and mental state, to communicate their problems and needs, and to improve their ties with their relatives, friends, and other social groups. Extensive body of research proves psychologists to be essential supporters of patients during their journey through cancer. These effects are of particular importance for women, who are more vulnerable to the effects of emotional disorders and distress associated with cancer. According to Manne et al. (2005), psychological interventions produce positive impacts on depressive symptoms in women at the earliest stages of breast cancer. Breast cancer patient benefit from expressive disclosure of their physical symptoms and display higher rates of habituation with the diagnosis through the use of words and the expression of their emotions (Low, Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 2006). Psychologists can detect, evaluate, and reduce the negative effects of cancer experiences on patients, as long as cancer experiences represent a form of a unique trauma which is associated with the unprecedented variety of emotional and cognitive consequences, from simple stress and rejection to the development of the more serious Posttraumatic disorder symptoms (Kangas, Henry & Bryant, 2005). Psychological support contributes greatly to the mediation of effects, which partner unsupportive behaviors produce on cancer patients and reduce the risks of avoidant coping and distress in those, who experience the lack of support from the significant others (Manne et al. 2005). According to Dog and Maizes (2010), psychology is a form of alternative approach to dealing with cancer in men and women. Regardless of whether one speaks about personal or remote counseling, the acceptability of the psychological support by cancer patients is growing (Shepherd et al., 2008). Because optimism plays one of the primary roles in helping patients with diagnosed cancer to reconcile with the reality and address medical professionals, psychologists vote for the early identification of patients with high levels of psychological distress and engaging these patients in in-depth psychological sessions (Steginga & Occhipinti, 2006). Such optimism does improve patient well-being years later and reduces the risks of depression during and following the cancer journey (Carver et al., 2005). Psychologists even have a potential to reduce the risks of mortality in different groups of patients: Anstey, Mack and Sanden (2006) and Ferraro and Nurridin (2006) suggest that cognitive impairment predicts mortality and, as a result, optimizing cognitive performance could play a significant role in increasing the longevity of life in patients. Needless to say, none of these studies links psychological support to the prevention of cancer risks but positions psychologists as the necessary supporters of cancer patients as they are going through the periods of distress and disagreement. However, psychologists could contribute to the development of rational self-assessment and screening behaviors in individuals with and without cancer. Psychologists and Rational Behaviors: The Prevention Potential It is at least ridiculous to assume that psychologists could prevent cancer. However, several studies confirm that psychologists could contribute to the development of more rational behaviors in individuals, making them more responsible toward their health and leading them to conduct regular self-assessment and screening procedures. The problem is of particular importance to patients with genetic predisposition and family history of cancer. Here, the task is to help patients cope with the news about their genetic predispositions and risks (Patenaude, 2009) and to make them prepared to dealing with these rationally. For example, in their article, Glanz et al. (2005) describe the effects of skin cancer prevention programs on adults: they confirm that such programs are usually associated with high participation rates and education individuals about the risks and prevention measures against cancer. This line of research is followed by Fry and Prentice-Dunn (2006), who state that participants of in-depth psychological programs display more rational attitudes toward breast cancer assessment and screening, although avoid regular screening procedures. Drossaert, Boel and Seyder (2005) state that psychological interventions do change the beliefs and intentions of women regarding their cancer risks, but these changes are minor and do not influence actual attendance of breast cancer screening by women. Based on what the current state of literature says, two possible conclusions can be made. First, even if psychologists have a potential to help individuals develop more rational attitudes toward self-screening, the effects of these psychological strategies seem to be influenced by a variety of factors, from the individuals’ willingness to engage in self-screening procedures, to fear of being diagnosed with cancer (Glanz et al., 2006). Second, the current body of research is overfilled with information about how psychological support works with patients who have been diagnosed with cancer; however, only few researchers provide information which could help to link psychological support to the possibility of preventing cancer in different groups of individuals. Psychological strategies and intervention programs have a potential to increase the number of people with healthy lifestyles and those who will attend regular medical assessment strategies. The question is in whether regular assessments can prevent (or only reduce) cancer risks and what should be done to reduce the psychological barriers on the individuals’ way to more rational assessment of such risks. These questions are yet to be answered. Conclusion Due to the emotional and traumatic cognitive effects of cancer diagnosis on individuals, cancer has always been one of the most controversial topics of research in psychology. Postmodern medicine displays the growing commitment to psychological factors in the development of serious health conditions and the role of psychology in dealing with life-threatening health states. The current state of research proves that it is at least ridiculous to believe that psychologists can prevent cancer. Psychologists can readily relieve the burden of psychological complications in cancer patients and have a chance to contribute to the development of rational self-assessment behaviors in individuals. Whether these behaviors can prevent cancer and what psychologists must do to help individuals overcome the barriers of fear and prejudice is yet to be discovered. References Anstey, K.J., Mack, H.A. & Sanden, C. (2006). The relationship between cognition and mortality in patients with stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer. European Psychologist, 11, 3, 182-195. Carver, C.S., Smith, R.G., Antoni, M.H., Derhagopian, R.P., Petronis, V.M. & Weiss, S. (2005). Optimistic personality and psychosocial well-being during treatment predict psychosocial well-being among long-term survivors of breast cancer. Health Psychology, 24, 5, 508-516. Dog, T.L.& Maizes, V. (2010). The role of integrative medicine in women’s health. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 16, 1, 16-18. Drossaert, C.H.C., Boer, H. & Seydel, E.R. (2005). Women’s opinions about attending for breast cancer screening: Stability of cognitive determinants during three rounds of screening. British Journal of Health Psychology, 10, 133-149. Ferraro, K.F. & Nuriddin, T.A. (2006). Psychological distress and mortality: Are women more vulnerable? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 47, 3, 227-241. Fry, R.B. & Prentice-Dunn, S. (2006). Effects of a psychosocial intervention on breast self- examination attitudes and behaviors. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice, 21, 2, 287-295. Glanz, K., Steffen, A., Elliott, T. & O’Riordan, D. (2005). Diffusion of an effective skin cancer prevention program: Design, theoretical foundations, and first-year implementation. Health Psychology, 24, 5, 477-487. Kangas, M., Henry, J.L. & Bryant, R.A. (2005). Predictors of posttrauamatic stress disorder following cancer. Health Psychology, 24, 6, 579-585. Low, C.A., Stanton, A.L. & Danoff-Burg. S. (2006). Expressive disclosure and benefit finding among breast cancer patients: Mechanisms for positive health effects. Health Psychology, 25, 2, 181-189. Manne, S.L., Ostroff, J.S., Winkel, G., Fox, K., Grana, G., Miller, E., Ross, S. & Frazier, T. (2005). Couple-focused group intervention for women with early stage breast cancer. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 4, 634-646. Manne, S.L., Ostroff, J., Winkel, G., Grana, G. & Fox, K. (2005). Partner unsupportive responses, avoidant coping, and distress among women with early stage breast cancer: Patient and partner perspectives. Health Psychology, 24, 6, 635-641. Nevid, J.S. (2008). Psychology: Concepts and applications. Boston: Cengage Learning. Patenaude, A.F. (2009). Helping your patients to deal with a predisposition to genetic disease. JA APA, 22, 11, 68-69. Shepherd, L., Goldstein, D., Olver, I. & Parle, M. (2008). Enhancing psychosocial care for people with cancer in rural communities: What can remote counseling offer? Australian Health Review, 32, 3, 423-438. Steginga, S.K. & Occhipinti, S. (2006). Dispositional optimism as a predictor of men’s decision-related distress after localized prostate cancer. Health Psychology, 25, 2, 135-143. Read More