Psychoneuroimmunology and innovative behavioral interventions in patients with leukemia.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review current research examining the effects of behavioral interventions on reducing symptom distress and improving quality of life in patients with cancer and to explore the application of behavioral interventions to patients with leukemia who are immunosuppressed by the disease or its treatment.

DATA SOURCES

Published books, journal articles, and personal experiences.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Interventions such as relaxation training, guided imagery, attentional/cognitive distraction, and therapeutic touch have been found to reduce pain, anxiety, and chemotherapy-related side effects, to elicit the relaxation response, and to improve several aspects of immune function in patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

A multicomponent, long-term program of behavioral interventions may provide the greatest and most lasting benefit, but it may be very challenging to implement. However, simple relaxation techniques are not difficult to learn, are not particularly time-consuming or costly to practice, and can be used anywhere.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses in virtually any setting easily can incorporate behavioral modalities into their practices and help patients with leukemia to reduce their physiologic arousal and symptom distress. Nursing research examining the effects of behavioral interventions on immunocompetence and cancer pain in patients with leukemia is needed.