Psychiatric Bulletin (2006) 30: 398. doi: 10.1192/pb.30.10.398-a
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2006) 30: 398
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychotherapy and the Treatment of Cancer Patients: Bearing Cancer in Mind
Lawrence Goldie & Jane Desmarais
Peter Aitken, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist
Wonford House Hospital, Dryden Road, Exeter EX2 5AF, email:
peter.aitken{at}devonptnrs.nhs.uk
London: Taylor & Francis, 2005, £18.99, pp. 156 ISBN
1583918574
Through the use of familiar case vignettes the authors quickly capture the
attention of those interested in liaison psychiatry and this book is a must
for trainees at all levels. Drawing on Lawrence Goldie’s experience of
bringing psychoanalytic psychotherapy to specialist cancer care, a holistic
approach is described which is applicable to many of the clinical scenarios
common to the practice of liaison psychiatry across all hospital
specialties.
The authors focus on the importance of the patient’s narrative, the
needs of patients and their families and carers, and the very real
difficulties encountered when entering the sick role in hospital. They explore
the cultural and communication gaps between naive young hospital doctors and
their often mature patients with much greater life experience. The different
factors motivating physicians, surgeons and patients are highlighted. How
taking the time to talk can help patients and professionals adjust to the
emotional challenge of life-threatening illness is also emphasised. Changes in
the health service over the past 30 years have altered the care environment,
presenting patients and their families with a bewildering journey through a
large technological experience. Goldie reminds us of the importance of
listening to and talking to as well as at our patients.
The patient stories are the book’s strength and it should have wider
appeal to trainees in oncology and palliative care provided they can cope with
the explicit criticism of their disciplines’ historical approach to
cancer care. Although I found myself nodding in agreement with much of the
sentiment, I felt uncomfortable with the generality of the criticism.
This book is a timely reminder to all of us in psychiatry to slow down and
not allow service pressures to erode the therapeutic value of time spent in
conversation with patients and carers at a pace and level that enables their
adjustment to the life event that is hospital admission.
