Karen L Syrjala, Mark P Jensen, M Elena Mendoza, Jean C Yi, Hannah M Fisher, Francis J Keefe
This review examines evidence for psychological factors that affect pain across the cancer continuum from diagnosis through treatment and long-term survivorship or end of life. Evidence is convincing that emotional distress, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and hopelessness interact with pain. Unrelieved pain can increase a desire for hastened death. Patients with cancer use many strategies to manage pain, with catastrophizing associated with increased pain and self-efficacy associated with lower pain reports...
June 1, 2014: Journal of Clinical Oncology