PsychEd Episode 22: Psycho-Oncology Assessments with Dr. Elie Isenberg-Grzeda

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. 

 

This episode is an introduction to the subspeciality of psychosocial oncology, focusing on 10 key content areas that you want to supplement your general psychiatric interview with. Along the way, we discuss the history of the field, contemporary controversies and useful interviewing techniques that can help with history collection, therapeutic alliance, and formulation. 

 

Learning objectives:

1. Gain familiarity with unique content areas to include in the assessment of patients with cancer
2. Learn interview techniques to facilitate accurate and efficient history taking in this patient population 
3. Increase knowledge around the concept of cancer-related distress and how it informs patient formulation, intervention, and DSM-5 Diagnosis

 

Host: Dr. Jordan Bawks, PGY4 in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto

 

Guest: Dr. Elie Isenberg-Grzeda, Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto

 

Timestamps for Content: 

4-11minutes - History of Psycho-Oncology

11- 14minutes –Distress Screening

14- 16minutes – Overview of specific content areas in psychosocial oncology assessments

15:50 – Cancer history

20:10- Beliefs about illness

24:00- Physical symptoms

26:00- Body Image

33:55- Coping

38:30- Family Supports &

41:00- Counseling on Cancer Disclosure to Family Members

49:30- Work Disruption

52:00- Religion & Spirituality

57:30- Death, Dying, Prognosis

1:04:45- Diagnostic dilemmas

1:10:30- Closing thoughts 

 

 CPA Note: The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Canadian Psychiatric Association.

 

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