Psychological Processes in Adolescents Receiving Palliative Oncology Care: Clinical Implications for Multidisciplinary Teams.

Authors

Giulia Zucchetti, Mario Giordano, Beatrice Giustetto, Francesca Rossi, Pierpaolo Chialvo, Daniele Bertin, Stefano Vallero, Paola Quarello, Franca Fagioli

Published in

Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology. Pages 21565333261485756. Sep 08, 2026. Epub Sep 08, 2026.

Abstract

Palliative care for adolescents with poor-prognosis cancer raises distinct and unresolved psychological challenges that differ from the broader adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology population. This article aims to clarify key psychological processes of adolescents in palliative care and to support multidisciplinary teams in navigating complex behaviors and clinical decision-making.
The study was grounded in developmental and psychodynamic theory and employed a structured reflective methodology to examine emotional, behavioral, and relational dynamics emerging during clinical management. Clinical observations and practices were integrated with current literature on palliative AYA oncology care.
Anticipatory grief (AG) emerges as the primary psychological construct through which adolescents' experiences in palliative oncology care can be understood. It is associated with fragmentation of future perspectives, identity development, and bodily experiences. These processes are illustrated through clinical manifestations, with clear implications for multidisciplinary team practice. Defense mechanisms, along with transference and countertransference dynamics, are also crucial aspects for professionals to recognize and manage. Understanding these elements allows the health care team to provide better emotional containment, navigate relational complexities, and support the adolescent's evolving needs.
Adolescents in palliative oncology require a distinct psychological framework that goes beyond standard AYA care models. Addressing AG as an organizing process of the adolescent experience calls for greater clinical attention to developmental disruption, relational dynamics, and meaning-making processes. Multidisciplinary teams should integrate reflective and psychologically informed approaches into routine care to improve care quality and clinical decision-making.

PMID:
42709469
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.