Onco-specific sleep disorders and fatigue: tactics of psychological test and cognitive behavioral therapy

Introduction. Sleep disorders are widespread throughout the entire period of treatment of an oncological patient from the moment of diagnosis, and in many patients persist after completion of treatment. The nature of cancer and its treatment expose patients to many potential provoking and/or supportive factors that are atypical for the general population. In addition, sleep disturbance rarely manifests as a separate symptom, but more often occurs together with such symptoms as fatigue, pain, depression and/or cognitive impairment. This complicates the assessment and often requires an individual treatment plan with a team approach.

AIM. of the work is to acquaint mental health specialists, oncologists, chemotherapists with the specifics of the examination of cancer-specific insomnia and fatigue, the construction of team treatment tactics, the organization of psychotherapeutic care for cancer patients.

Results. The article describes for the first time the specifics of onco-specific insomnia and fatigue. The general predisposing and supporting factors of insomnia characteristic of cancer patients are systematized. The relationship between onco-specific fatigue and sleep disorders is shown. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines as a common neuroendocrine-immune mechanism underlying the behavioral symptoms of sleep disorders, fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction in people with cancer is noted. Due to the limitations of the pharmacological approach, the purpose, forms, modes and approaches of using cognitive behavioral therapy protocols to minimize insomnia and fatigue are described. Based on the data of our foreign colleagues, we have proposed an algorithm for assessing sleep disorders in a patient with an oncological profile. The effectiveness of the standard protocol of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy of insomnia (SCBT-I) in a patient of the oncological profile Lavini Fiorentino is described in detail and shown; as well as the short protocol of CBT of cancer-specific insomnia by Eric Zo et al.; remote protocol of mindfulness enhancement therapy to minimize onco-specific fatigue Z.by Fieke et al.

Conclusions. CBT in the framework of complex treatment has a positive effect on the immune system, reducing inflammation mediated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Despite the accumulation of evidence confirming the effectiveness of this form of psychological assistance, its availability in Russia remains extremely limited and not fully appreciated.