The team hypothesized that for some people, finding out that they are HIV-positive may lead to social isolation and poor coping strategies that could suppress the immune system. Help for cancer Interventions to improve the quality of life of cancer patients has also improved their physical health, include targeted group therapy and relaxation training have been shown to improve patients' moods, lower their emotional distress and improve their ability to cope with their illnesses. Several treatment strategies are effective in helping cancer patients cope, Andersen said. In groups she's run with breast cancer patients, for instance, she's helped women think about ways to deal with fatigue and lack of time to do what they want to do. In addition, strategies that work include teaching progressive muscle relaxation training and helping women identify the people who support them, and in what arenas.
Psychologists can also help medical teams identify the best transplant candidates.
According to Mary Ellen Olbrisch, PhD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, psychologists are extensively involved in assessing who is most capable of dealing with the required medical regimen. Psychologists also intervene with those who are weak on such skills, but who can develop them through behavioral change strategies and support, Olbrisch said. To assess patients, she and a team of colleagues have developed a predictive tool that tests which patients have the psychological strength to handle the transplant process and its after effects, she said. The scale looks at social support, personality, mental health, lifestyle and behavioral factors. The first part of that process involves helping health care teams develop policies that can uniformly be applied to all transplant candidates, such as not smoking.