Healing the Mind/Body Split: Bringing the Patient Back Into Oncology
Open Access
- 1 March 2003
- journal article
- review article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Integrative Cancer Therapies
- Vol. 2 (1) , 5-12
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735403251264
Abstract
The effect on oncology of the doctrine of Cartesian dualism is examined. It is argued that (1) this doctrine continues to exert a baneful (though unacknowledged) influence on the practice of oncology, (2) Descartes's doctrine of a mind/ body split is mistaken, and (3) mind and body (brain) are inextricably interwoven. A biopsychosocial model of disease is advocated. The role of psychooncology in healing the mind/ body split by focusing research attention on the patient is outlined.Keywords
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