The department was founded in January 2001 within the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology. Since the beginning, the department has expanded considerably and is today among the largest research active areas at the institute. At present, the department employs 12 full-time researchers as well as several students, writing their bachelor’s or master’s thesis in a range of subjects.
The overall goal of the Department of Psychosocial Cancer Research is to generate high- level international knowledge about psychosocial conditions in cancer patients. Through this knowledge, it is our hope that we may contribute to novel and improved offers of treatment and rehabilitation to cancer patients and their relatives.
Specifically, our research explores the relation between psychological and social conditions, such as personality traits, major life events (divorce, death of spouse and unemployment), psychological stress and the incidence of cancer. We undertake clinical investigations that illuminate how cancer changes the course of life for patients and relatives in order to be able to improve the clinical offers for cancer patients. Another focus of the department is to investigate the relationship between cancer treatment and the risk of losing your job, retire before time or have your income reduced. In an investigation of spiritual activity Danes, we explore the relation between religious belief and health. Additionally we work to clarify to what extend psychological intervention (eg. group therapy and education) can reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients. In a randomized study we also investigate which factors play a part in the health behavior of teenagers with a particular focus on why teenagers take up smoking or drinking alcohol. Our department also undertakes research in relations between exposure to electromagnetic fields and health.
Since 2002, the department has been responsible for the FOCARE research project which assesses the outcome of cancer rehabilitation at the Dallund Rehabilitation Centre, the first residential rehabilitation for Danish cancer patients. The project consists of a large survey of how the rehabilitation intervention at Dallund affects the psychological well-being and social relations of the participants. The study also holds a qualitative, ethnographic evaluation of the rehabilitation process. In connection with the rehabilitation study, we have initiated an e-health project, where we explore how the internet can open up new possibilities to strengthen the quality of life of cancer patients after treatment.
The research team which makes up the department has various academic profiles (doctors, biologists, psychologists, anthropologists). Moreover a project nurse and a programmer are employed in the department. Our research branches out from epidemiological methods to cover a broad range of different scientific approaches such as clinical medicine, ethnography, anthropology etc.
Research results from our department are published in a number of international, scientific journals, and we have succeeded in publishing our work in New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, The American Journal of Epidemiology and Cancer. The department collaborates with researchers from the Nordic countries, Europe and USA in several projects. Our department organized the 7th International World Congress of Psycho-Oncology in Copenhagen, August 2004.
Head of Department, MD, Ph.D., DMSc Christoffer Johansen is president of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (www.ipos-society.org).
Main Projects
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Social inequality and cancer
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Social relations associated with health related behaviour
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Use of antidpressive medicine and risk of cancer
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Neuroleptica and risk for cancer
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Death of a spouse and risk for cancer
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Psychosocial late effects of childhood cancer
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Physiological late effects among adult cancer survivors
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Cancer and working life
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Prevention of smoking and alcohol consumption among teenagers
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How the internet can increase well-being of cancer patients
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Psychosocial intervention among cancer patients
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Rehabilitation of cancer patients
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The spouse and family
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Religious belief and health
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Intervention among women with breast cancer
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Survivorship issues
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Mobile phones and health
