RunningHead: YOUNG ADULTS WITH CANCER AND DEPRESSION 1

Young Adults with Cancer and Depression

Student Name
YOUNG ADULTS WITH CANCER AND DEPRESSION 2

Young Adults with Cancer and Depression

The young adult cancer patients are the specific population that is suffering from the

psychosocial or depressions issues in dealing with the severity of cancer. During the long

treatment, the patients have to face the crisis while living in the society where the people do not

accept the ill ones (Dimidjian et al., 2006). Day to day crisis makes them psychosocial who

needs care from the healthcare specialists and the people in the society. Interventions are

necessary to support patient and give them access to the specific care points.

Literature Review

The past researchers have defined the presence of psychological problems like depression

and anxiety. They have identified the suitable interventions which can help the patients. They

have considered the importance of positivity in living a life which can end any time (Dimidjian

et al., 2006). Depression and cancer are becoming the global issues and many adults are suffering

from them. According to the data of WHO, the depression is the leading cause which is

increasing the adversities of life (Park & Rosenstein, 2015). The combination of depression and

cancer then severity will be magnified. American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer

started the psychosocial care of cancer patients to improve the outcomes of treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that cancer patients are taking

medications and following treatments for anxiety and depression more than the normal people

without the history of cancer (Hawkins et al., 2017). Jacobsen and Jim (2008) stated that the

psychosocial problems are generated from the fear of death, the pain of disease, the sufferings

from long treatment and changes in social roles. About 2.5 million cancer survivors are going

through the anxiety and depression treatment (Hawkins et al., 2017). The young ones are the
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most common who are going through the problems. It is because of the fact that they have to

face the severity of life in the early age when the other young adults are enjoying all the

blessings of life without any considerations of life and death.

According to Massie (2004), the repetitive occurrence of threats to life with the fatigue

and weakness after the treatment can negatively support the presence of depression. The mood

changes are high than the normal people in depression, because of the presence of a big disease

like cancer (Dimidjian et al., 2006). The social pressure in the form of unemployment, big

financial and health crisis, poor family support and unacceptance by the people are other

supportive factors of psychosocial issues (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko, 2014).

Experiencing cancer in young age generates many unique difficulties in the form of

academic incompetencies, failure in maintaining the professional career, stress to handle social

pressure and ambiguities about the coming future (Katon et al., 2010). The cancer treatment is

itself is very painful and mind stretching the presence of depression can increase the sufferings.

The physical problems in the form of bone marrow transplant, vomiting, nausea, vomiting,

fatigue, loss of physical strength and malnutrition increase the attacks of psychosocial problems.

The social development is young cancer patients is very important which is based on the

connected circles based on families, friends, sporting social groups, religious communities,

cultural values, parents’ employment, school environment, social media, economic issues,

government policies and health care services (Kim et al.,2008). All these elements are linked

together which can support the patients in tackling with the depression and psychosocial

disorders through effective interventions.

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In all over the world, it becomes a critical issue to provide cancer patients access to

psychosocial care (Dimidjian et al., 2006). The goal is to define the evidence-based interventions

which are easy to implement by the social bodies and other healthcare responsible workers. The

outcomes of these interventions will be monitored to understand the positive and negative

responses. The research showed that psychosocial interventions will be better implemented when

the all the symptoms of depression are analyzed instead of following the single one (Jacobsen &

Jim, 2008). It would not be wise to select interventions without understanding the outcomes and

benefits to reduce the chances of side effects for those who are already having a difficult time.

The clinical interventions will work well after understanding the complete medication and

treatment history of the cancer patients to point out the emotional side effects and mood disorder

(Dimidjian et al., 2006).

According to the research of Jacobsen and Jim (2008), the social workers and consolers

can use certain interventions to provide psychosocial care to the young adults having cancer as a

threat. Behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, communication skill training, counseling on

individual and family basis. Music therapy and psychotherapy are useful innervations in this

regard. They have least side effects which can consider as zero with many positive benefits in

successive sessions for the benefits of patients (Savard, Simard, Ivers & Morin, 2005). Different

type of scopes of the scholarly articles presented the different outcomes of the interventions in

reducing the wide range of psychosocial problems. It is important to note that demographical

differences, social issues, economic background and family relationships also have impact on the

clinical treatment (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko, 2014). Many things are needed to sort out for

effectivity of interventions and inducing positive energy in cancer patients who are on the verge

of death.
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Interventions

For the discussion, three main evidenced-based interventions are selected which are

currently in used. Behavioral therapy is the first intervention which has focus on identifying the

negative behaviors and replacing them with the positive and effectively beneficial behaviors. It is

effective in treating the anxiety and depression (Hopko, Robertson & Colman, 2008). The second

one is cognitive therapy which has focus on identifying the negative and problematic behaviors

and changing them with positive thoughts to reduce the wrong emotions and increase the

effectivity of cancer medication. It is used from a long time and producing numerous effects in

changing the emotions which takes part an important role in the life (Savard, Simard, Ivers &

Morin, 2005). In specific duration session, the consoling teams and social workers can find out

the thinking pattern of patients. They can help patients in developing useful skills to manage the

problematic thoughts and feelings.

The third intervention is family counseling. It is really supportive to join the efforts of

family in conjoint session to develop a positive and productive environment for the patients

which can reduce the occurrence of depression (Jacobsen & Jim, 2008). The fourth intervention

is the problem-solving therapy for depressed cancer patients, which is helpful to induce the

energy in individuals to tackle the big challenges of life. The consoling sessions can help in

finding the wide range of possible solutions and getting the ability to identify the best potential

solution (Dimidjian et al., 2006). The young cancer patients can implement the optimal solutions

and monitoring the working sessions in all the stages. At the end, they will able to evaluate the

actual solutions (Jacobsen & Jim, 2008). This intervention is helpful to increase confidence in

patients which will eventually support the positive outlook of life. The depression will reduce to

zero and the cancer treatment will show more productive outcomes.
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Two Selected Interventions

Behavior therapy can effectively treat the depression in cancer patients with the help of

community healthcare centers. It is effective then antidepressant medications which have severe

side effects. Hopko, Robertson and Colman (2008) implemented this intervention in their

research study with the help of 43 young cancer patients with major form of depression. The

outcomes showed the reduction in reinforcement of depressed behaviors and motivation towards

the life (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko, 2014). This innervation is effective for the patients in slow

mental healing with strong future impact. The social workers, psychologists, religious

counselors, community members and psychiatrists can work as behavioral therapists.

Cognitive therapy is another good intervention for psychosocial disorder treatments

(Dimidjian et al., 2006). The goal of this treatment is to make patients optimistic towards the life

without eliminating the reality-based factors (Savard, Simard, Ivers & Morin, 2005). It is helpful

to tackle the negative attitudes in the cancer patients which can at the end make them sicker and

dishearten. Instead of thinking about the death, they can move towards hope of getting a having

and healthy life in future.

Skills and Techniques of Interventions

The specific skills and techniques can be applied on the chosen intervention. The weekly

self-monitoring exercise and daily consoling will use to shift the interest of the person towards

the positive outlooks of life (Dimidjian et al., 2006). Other techniques can be applied in the form

of additions of healthy behavior by engaging patients in sports and hobbies with other productive

interactions. The consolers and patients can collectively decide the activities. Especially in

cognitive therapy, the assistant helps the patients in working with people especially children to
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get the brighter outlook related to life and supporting the treatment to eliminate the irrational

thoughts about the certain situations of life.

Moreover, in cognitive therapy the validity testing, cognitive rehearsal and journaling. In

the validity testing, the cancer patients with depression discuss their thoughts and beliefs with

defending the present elements (Jacobsen & Jim, 2008). Journaling is helpful to keep the record

of everyday activities to remember the good outcomes of the day and find relief after writing

about true emotions. The last one cognitive rehearsal is imagining a situation of difficulties and

getting assistance to tackle the difficulties with the help of therapists (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko,

2014). All these techniques are helpful in implementing cognitive therapy.

On the other hand, specifically for the behavioral therapy flooding, systematic

desensitization and modeling approaches are well helpful (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko, 2014). In

flooding the specific fears of young cancer patients can be treated. These fears can be in the form

of fear of death, disability and pain. In systematic desensitization, the fears are tackled by

inducing relaxation in the patients which will weaken the impact of depression (Jacobsen & Jim,

2008). The young cancer suffering individuals learn about effective relaxation techniques and

tackle the horrifying situations of life without creating panic and fuss in psychosocial disorders

(Dimidjian et al., 2006). In the end, modeling is learning to adopt the positive behaviors of others

through observation, training and effective communication.

Measurement of Outcomes

The outcomes of these interventions are measured after a six-month follow-up using

scientific techniques and statistical methods. They can be randomized control trials or interview

sessions regarding specific incidents (Jacobsen & Jim, 2008). On the other hand, the positivity in
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accepting the hurdles of life and progress in treatment will be other parameters to understand the

outcomes. The changes in moods of patients and reduction in occurrence of depression attacks

will show that innervations are effective. The therapists can create certain situations to evaluate

the changes in the behaviors and thinking of young cancer patients (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko,

2014). They can also record the sessions to cross-check the response of patients regarding the

same questions and the same situations.

Cultural Considerations

The cultural considerations like myths about the cancer patients, social-stigmas and other

elements are important to consider in working with this population (Ryba, Lejuez & Hopko,

2014). The young people have to face the cultural barriers in the form of poor acceptance from

the society. The family members and social groups can influence the treatment of the cancer

patients. They need to accept their presence and consider them important part of the society who

need their support but have a respectable existence.

The allegations related to loss of control and independence of young cancer patients with

isolation because of having chronic disease can develop more chances of having depression and

anxiety (Jacobsen & Jim, 2008). There is a need to change the old cultural behaviors to

effectively implement the interventions to reduce the psychosocial disorder and provide ease to

the cancer patients who are already going through the severe pain. The depression is the big

cause of deaths in life. It can be eliminated through collective efforts of community members as

well as the patients with families.

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References
Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M.

E., ... & Atkins, D. C. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive

therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major

depression. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 74(4), 658.

Hawkins, N. A., Soman, A., Lunsford, N. B., Leadbetter, S., & Rodriguez, J. L. (2017). Use of

medications for treating anxiety and depression in cancer survivors in the United

States. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 35(1), 78-82.

Hopko, D. R., Robertson, S. M. C., & Colman, L. (2008). Behavioral activation therapy for

depressed cancer patients: Factors associated with treatment outcome and

attrition. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 4(4), 319.

Katon, W. J., Lin, E. H., Von Korff, M., Ciechanowski, P., Ludman, E. J., Young, B., ... &

McCulloch, D. (2010). Collaborative care for patients with depression and chronic

illnesses. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(27), 2611-2620.

Kim, S. W., Shin, I. S., Kim, J. M., Kim, Y. C., Kim, K. S., Kim, K. M., ... & Yoon, J. S. (2008).

Effectiveness of mirtazapine for nausea and insomnia in cancer patients with

depression. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 62(1), 75-83.

Jacobsen, P. B., & Jim, H. S. (2008). Psychosocial interventions for anxiety and depression in

adult cancer patients: achievements and challenges. CA: a cancer journal for

clinicians, 58(4), 214-230.

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Massie, M. J. (2004). Prevalence of depression in patients with cancer. JNCI

Monographs, 2004(32), 57-71.

Park, E. M., & Rosenstein, D. L. (2015). Depression in adolescents and young adults with

cancer. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 17(2), 171.

Ryba, M. M., Lejuez, C. W., & Hopko, D. R. (2014). Behavioral activation for depressed breast

cancer patients: The impact of therapeutic compliance and quantity of activities

completed on symptom reduction. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 82(2),

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Savard, J., Simard, S., Ivers, H., & Morin, C. M. (2005). Randomized study on the efficacy of

cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia secondary to breast cancer, part I: Sleep and

psychological effects. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23(25), 6083-6096.