Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
de Souza Institute.
Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2020 Mar;14(1):74-79. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000484.
Body image is a critical psychosocial issue for patients with cancer, because of the profound effects the disease and its treatment can have on appearance and bodily functioning. Adverse psychological effects of body image changes associated with cancer include debilitating levels of anxiety, social avoidance, depression, problems with intimacy and impaired sexuality, and feelings of shame/inadequacy. The construct of body image is increasingly recognized as complex and multifaceted from an embodied lens, creating more meaningful and efficacious interventions. Although there is some evidence now for in-person interventions, more research is needed in online and in-person interventions, particularly beyond what has been demonstrated in breast cancer. There is also need to address concerns around the practical and psychosocial barriers that can diminish access to, and participation in such individual or group interventions. Internet-based interventions offer opportunity for greater access to tailored psychosocial care.
An emerging conceptualization of body image for cancer patients is discussed. Internet-delivered interventions targeting body image are outlined; the majority are pilot trials and those developed for breast cancer patients. Challenges found in online interventions are also discussed.
Internet-delivered body image interventions would benefit from a broader conceptualization of body image, greater methodological rigor, and investigations focused on a broader range of cancer populations, beyond patients with breast cancer. Future research is needed to develop, test, and identify who can benefit from online interventions within cancer care.
体像对于癌症患者来说是一个重要的心理社会问题，因为疾病及其治疗会对外观和身体功能产生深远的影响。与癌症相关的体像变化会导致严重的心理问题，包括焦虑、社交回避、抑郁、亲密关系问题和性功能障碍、羞耻感/不足感。从身体的角度来看，体像的概念被越来越多地认识到是复杂和多方面的，这就需要更有意义和有效的干预措施。虽然现在有一些关于面对面干预的证据，但需要更多关于在线和面对面干预的研究，特别是在乳腺癌以外的领域。还需要解决实际和心理社会障碍的问题，这些问题会降低人们对这些个体或群体干预措施的接受程度和参与度。基于互联网的干预措施为获得量身定制的心理社会护理提供了更多机会。
讨论了一种针对癌症患者的新兴体像概念。概述了针对体像的互联网干预措施；大多数是试点试验，并且是为乳腺癌患者开发的。还讨论了在线干预中发现的挑战。
互联网提供的体像干预措施需要更广泛的体像概念、更高的方法学严谨性，以及针对更广泛的癌症人群的研究，而不仅仅是乳腺癌患者。未来的研究需要开发、测试和确定谁可以从癌症护理中的在线干预中受益。
