What is psycho-oncology? In general, this is a specialty associated with psychotherapeutic assistance to patients with cancer. Today, all foreign specialized clinics provide such services without fail. The largest international cancer center MD Anderson claims: “Psycho-oncologist is a key figure in all stages of the disease of an adult cancer patient”. In Germany, in order to obtain a license for an oncological clinic, it must have a psycho-oncological service.
What is the difference between psychooncology and oncopsychology? Usually these terms are perceived as synonyms; in our opinion, these terms have somewhat different meanings.
Oncopsychology focuses mainly on the correction of personality and psychopathological disorders that have arisen as a result diseases. This is what psychologists do. Psycho-oncology should be considered as a branch of medicine aimed at psychotherapy reasons diseases. Its task is to actively involve the patient in eliminating the tumor and activating the body's natural healing resources.