Psycho-Oncology Specialist Course

Lesson 1 • Biopsychosocial Model in Cancer Care

Applies Engel's biopsychosocial model to oncology settings, integrating biological, psychological, and social determinants. Provides the theoretical lens used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Epidemiology of Psychological Distress in Cancer

Reviews prevalence data on distress, depression, and anxiety across cancer types and stages. Establishes the clinical burden that justifies psycho-oncology services.

Lesson 3 • History and Scope of Psycho-Oncology

Traces the emergence of psycho-oncology from liaison psychiatry to an independent specialty. Grounds subsequent chapters in disciplinary identity and scope of practice.

Lesson 4 • Ethical and Cultural Foundations

Introduces ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, justice—as applied to cancer populations. Highlights cultural humility as essential to equitable psycho-oncology care.

Lesson 1 • Palliative Care and Symptom Management

Introduces palliative care philosophy and its intersection with psycho-oncology across the disease continuum. Establishes pain and symptom management as psychological as well as physical concerns.

Lesson 2 • Survivorship and Long-Term Medical Sequelae

Reviews late effects of cancer treatment relevant to long-term psychological adjustment. Connects medical survivorship data to psychosocial needs addressed in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Surgery, Radiation, and Systemic Therapies

Describes the psychological implications of major treatment modalities including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Links treatment experiences to distress patterns addressed later.

Lesson 4 • Cancer Biology Essentials for Clinicians

Covers tumor biology, staging systems, and cancer classification at a level sufficient for clinical communication. Enables psycho-oncologists to engage meaningfully with medical colleagues.

Lesson 1 • Case Formulation and Treatment Planning

Synthesizes assessment data into a biopsychosocial case formulation that drives individualized treatment planning. Connects assessment findings to intervention selection covered in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 2 • Validated Psychometric Instruments

Reviews psychometrically sound questionnaires for depression, anxiety, quality of life, and coping in cancer. Guides instrument selection based on clinical purpose and patient burden.

Lesson 3 • Distress Screening Models and Tools

Presents evidence-based distress screening frameworks and validated instruments used in oncology. Establishes routine screening as the entry point for psycho-oncology assessment.

Lesson 4 • Differential Diagnosis in Cancer Populations

Addresses the challenge of distinguishing psychiatric disorders from medically driven symptoms in cancer patients. Reduces diagnostic error by applying oncology-specific diagnostic criteria.

Lesson 1 • Trauma, PTSD, and Post-Traumatic Growth

Addresses cancer as a traumatic stressor, covering PTSD prevalence, assessment, and treatment in oncology. Introduces post-traumatic growth as a parallel outcome alongside distress.

Lesson 2 • Substance Use and Psychiatric Comorbidities

Reviews substance use disorders and pre-existing psychiatric comorbidities that complicate cancer care. Guides clinicians in adapting psycho-oncology interventions for complex presentations.

Lesson 3 • Anxiety Disorders and Cancer-Specific Fears

Examines generalized anxiety, panic, phobias, and cancer-specific fears such as recurrence anxiety. Links anxiety presentations to treatment interference and quality-of-life impairment.

Lesson 4 • Major Depression in Oncology

Covers prevalence, risk factors, diagnostic challenges, and evidence-based treatment of major depression in cancer. Addresses pharmacological and psychotherapeutic options within oncology constraints.

Lesson 5 • Delirium and Cognitive Disorders

Trains clinicians to recognize, assess, and manage delirium and cognitive disorders in hospitalized and outpatient cancer patients. Emphasizes rapid identification and non-pharmacological management.

Lesson 1 • Difficult Conversations in Special Contexts

Applies communication skills to pediatric oncology, geriatric patients, and cross-cultural settings. Extends core frameworks to populations requiring adapted communication approaches.

Lesson 2 • Frameworks for Breaking Bad News

Teaches structured protocols such as SPIKES for delivering serious news in oncology settings. Provides a reproducible framework that reduces clinician distress and improves patient outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Prognostic Communication and Uncertainty

Addresses how to communicate prognosis honestly while preserving hope and managing uncertainty. Trains clinicians to balance truthfulness with psychological safety in prognostic discussions.

Lesson 4 • Communicating with Families and Caregivers

Covers strategies for including families in disclosure and care planning while respecting patient confidentiality. Addresses family system dynamics that affect patient psychological outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Cancer

Applies ACT's hexaflex model to cancer-related psychological inflexibility and avoidance. Trains clinicians in values clarification and committed action within oncology contexts.

Lesson 2 • Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Covers Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy adapted for cancer. Trains clinicians in delivering core mindfulness practices and managing common barriers.

Lesson 3 • Brief and Stepped-Care Intervention Models

Presents stepped-care frameworks for matching intervention intensity to distress severity in oncology settings. Enables efficient resource allocation across large patient populations.

Lesson 4 • Supportive-Expressive and Interpersonal Therapies

Covers supportive-expressive group therapy and interpersonal therapy adapted for cancer-related role transitions. Addresses emotional expression, social support, and relationship disruption.

Lesson 5 • Meaning-Centered and Existential Therapies

Introduces Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy and dignity therapy as interventions targeting existential distress. Equips clinicians to address suffering, legacy, and purpose in advanced cancer.

Lesson 1 • Survivorship: Adjustment and Long-Term Wellbeing

Covers the psychological transition from patient to survivor, including identity shifts and fear of recurrence. Guides clinicians in supporting long-term adjustment and post-treatment flourishing.

Lesson 2 • End-of-Life Psychological Care

Provides frameworks for addressing existential distress, dignity, and psychological suffering at end of life. Prepares clinicians to deliver compassionate care in the final weeks and days of life.

Lesson 3 • Recurrence, Progression, and Treatment Failure

Addresses the profound psychological impact of cancer recurrence and disease progression. Trains clinicians to support patients through renewed grief, loss of hope, and treatment decision-making.

Lesson 4 • Distress During Active Treatment

Addresses psychological challenges during chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical recovery phases. Links treatment-specific side effects to targeted psychosocial interventions.

Lesson 1 • Supervision, Training, and Workforce Development

Prepares senior clinicians to supervise trainees and develop psycho-oncology workforce capacity. Covers supervision models, competency frameworks, and training program design.

Lesson 2 • Designing Psycho-Oncology Service Models

Guides clinicians in planning and implementing psycho-oncology programs within oncology centers. Covers needs assessment, staffing models, and integration with existing oncology workflows.

Lesson 3 • Research Literacy and Evidence Translation

Builds skills in critically appraising psycho-oncology research and translating findings into clinical practice. Enables clinicians to contribute to evidence-based service development and research teams.

Lesson 4 • Quality Improvement and Outcome Measurement

Applies quality improvement methodologies to psycho-oncology service evaluation and enhancement. Trains clinicians to select, collect, and interpret patient-reported outcome measures at the program level.