The psychosocial role for nurses responding to depression among cancer patients during palliative treatment

Abstract

Depressive disorder (or depression) is a common psychiatric condition characterized by a persistent despondent mood and a prolonged loss of pleasure or interest in daily activities. This condition may lead to self-harm or suicide. Depression is frequently found among patients diagnosed with cancer, which is a chronic disease requiring long-term treatment. It has been reported that more than 50% of cancer patients experience symptoms of depression. Therefore, cancer patients undergoing palliative treatment should receive systematic assessments to identify depression risk factors, severity levels and be evaluated if their condition may result in self-harm.

Caring for cancer patients with depression presents a significant challenge for nurses, particularly in the context of palliative care, where patients experience complex health conditions affecting their physical, psychological and social dimensions. Key psychosocial  roles for nurses include providing education and counseling, conducting psychotherapy through therapeutic relationships and therapeutic communication, managing the patient’s environment to reduce anxiety, and empowering patients while promoting self-care abilities to prevent the patient’s condition from becoming more severe. These interventions require the appropriate application of psychological theories tailored to the individual needs of each patient. This situation reflects a significant opportunity to develop the competencies of nurses by equipping them with specialized knowledge and expertise, particularly in psychosocial nursing. These applications will enable nurses to effectively respond to the complex needs of patients and adapt to future changes in the healthcare system.