The role of psychological processes in the aetiology and treatment of cervical cancer: a biopsychological perspective.

Cervical cancer is one of the most serious illnesses affecting women today, particularly in developing societies. Despite medical advances in treatment and the success of cervical screening programmes in detection, the incidence of the disease is increasing. In this paper it is argued that one of the reasons for this is that the aetiological model employed for cervical cancer takes little account of psychological and psychophysiological factors. Both of these factors are now thought to play important roles in disease processes. Research in these areas is reviewed and a new aetiological model for cervical cancer described. This model incorporates existing epidemiological and medical formulations into a new multifactor framework. The implications of this model for treatment are explored and it is suggested that psychological interventions could play a much greater role than they have in the past.