Background: We started a special outpatient service for cancer patients in 2010. Not only cancer patients but also their family members have visited our outpatient service and the number of them is gradually increasing. However, little is known about the impact of cancer and the process of its treatment on the family members of cancer patients. The aim of this study is to clarify the symptoms and the recovering process of the family members through narrative therapy.
Methods: The data of family members of cancer patients who visited the specific outpatient service for psycho-oncology were collected. All the items assessed during narrative sessions were extracted from medical charts. Multiple factors such as age, sex, economic and social status, the relation to the cancer patient, physical and psychological symptoms, psychiatric diagnosis, the duration until recovery and the influence of the family members’ condition on the cancer patient were analyzed.
Results: Relations to cancer patients were divided into four patterns; parents, children, husband, and wife, and there were characteristic clinical manifestations related to the relation pattern. In addition, lack of other family members and a fragile economic background hampered the psychological recovery of bereaved family members. The most common psychiatric disorders for family members, as well as cancer patients, were depression, anxiety disorders and adjustment disorders. Some family members also revealed outstanding symptoms of confusion and anger. In narrative therapy sessions, bereaved family members showed temporary exacerbation of psychological symptoms at around the first anniversary of a patient’s death. Following that time, they gradually recovered and approximately two years were necessary to adjust themselves to a new life situation.
Conclusions: Supporting family members is an important aspect of cancer therapy and gives positive effects to cancer patients. Narrative therapy is one example of an effective approach for helping family members recover.