[Not Available].

Epidemiological data show that 40-50% of all cancer patients develop some kind of psychosocial disturbancy during the course of their illness and about 30% will require professional support. Even if there exists a considerable body of knowledge and a differentiated health care System, the vast majority of cancer patients have no chance to receive any proper psychosocial care due to the lack of facilities like psychosocial outpatient Services in the communities and specifically trained psychooncologists on oncology wards, whereas the number of psychooncologists in rehabilitation-clinics seems to be sufficient. Psychooncological societies have established training courses and formulated guidelines relating to some important aspects of psychosocial research and practice, in order to promote good quality in the psychosocial care of cancer patients.