[Psychological medical aspects of the management of the tumor patient (author's transl)].

Psychodynamic processes in the sense of secondary psychic reactions which can be regularly demonstrated in tumor patients are described: object loss with subsequent narcissistic insult and aggression defense and the inherent defense mechanisms; especially is denial which appears as adaptive misadaptive. Dealing with tumor patients includes emotional receptivity on the one hand and supportive psychotherapy on the other. Furthermore, of additional importance is management of the relatives and pre-operative and post-operative care by means of selfhelp groups. From this broadly based psychological medical program arise possibilities for specific psychosomatic interventions to supplement the somatotherapeutic measures.