[Psychological problems in the treatment of cancer and chronically ill patients in nursing homes].

Psychological problems develop in patients with chronic diseases due to three main causes: 1. Because of the situation of the patient, who is admitted to the nursing-hospital in severely ill condition and now has to adapt to this new and fear inducing situation. 2. Because of the hospital staff, who has no previous psychological training and now has to deal with the patient. 3. Because of the adaptation of doctor and nurses who have to deal with the patient in a manner which induces him to accept the nursing hospital as a place where he must remain for the future. To portray these problems more clearly, the case of a patient with carcinoma of the breast, is described.