CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Palliative cancer care - general issues - Management
How should I assess and manage the person's psychological needs?
- Assess the person's psychological state at key points during the course of the illness (e.g. at the time of diagnosis, around treatment episodes, as treatments end, at the time of a relapse, and when death is approaching).
- Offer general emotional support including skilled communication, effective information provision, courtesy, and respect.
- If the person or their carers have significant levels of psychological distress, prompt referral to specialist psychological care services should be offered.
- The appropriate psychological intervention will depend on the person's current and previous psychological problems, the level of support available, and their prognosis.
In depth
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement