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The Potential Role of Peer Support Interventions in Treating Depressive Symptoms in Cancer Patients
1Department of Medical Psychology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
2Division of Patient Safety, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
3Department of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan
4Faculty of Nursing, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
5Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya City University West Medical Center, Aichi, Japan
6Department of Stress Sciences and Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Depressive symptoms are prevalent in cancer patients and are one of the most distressing symptoms in this population. Although mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists are now engaged in cancer care, the management of depressive symptoms in cancer patients needs further improvement. Peer support interventions (PSIs) in cancer care have attracted substantial attention and have several advantages over support by medical professionals, potentially improving depressive symptoms in cancer patients. However, there may be some potential risks. Several strategies using PSIs have been developed to improve depressive symptoms and have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials. The strategies include education on stress management skills, promoting emotional support, counseling on specific topics that are difficult to discuss with others, helping patients navigate the use of resources, and promoting health-related behaviors to decrease depressive symptoms. In this paper, we present recent findings on PSIs in cancer, focusing on randomized controlled trials.
J Nippon Med Sch 2022; 89: 16-23
Keywords
cancer, peer, peer support, depressive symptoms
Correspondence to
Eisho Yoshikawa, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Psychology, Nippon Medical School, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0023, Japan
e-yoshi@nms.ac.jp
Received, May 31, 2021
Accepted, August 4, 2021
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