Crisis intervention: a drop-in support group for cancer patients and their families.

Cancer today presents patients and their families with an on-going series of crises. A drop-in, open ended, professionally-run support group for cancer patients and their families is described as a means of crisis intervention for the mobilization and promotion of adaptive responses and movement away from maladaptive responses to the stresses of cancer. This model is important because it can be easily generalized. As oncology units develop throughout the country in community-hospital settings, there must be concurrent development of psychosocial support systems.