Integrated Behavioral Medicine in Cancer Care: Utilizing a Training Program Model to Provide Psychological Services in an Urban Cancer Center

Abstract

Psycho-oncology has come of age as its own unique subspecialty under the umbrella of oncology, vastly refining our knowledge regarding the psychosocial impact of cancer and fostering acceptance of the psychological underpinnings of the cancer experience, in turn improving the overall quality of cancer care. The importance of integrating psychological practice into the comprehensive treatment of cancer has become readily apparent, and psychosocial support services are increasing in quantity and breadth. It is the aim of this article to present a cogent argument for the proliferation of Integrated Behavioral Medicine (IBM) programs in both inpatient and outpatient clinical cancer treatment centers via an in-depth discussion of a successful IBM program including analysis of program structure, service delivery model and description of clinical services provided, and a longitudinal review of referral trends.