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DOI: 10.1177/1534735403251264 Healing the Mind/Body Split: Bringing the Patient Back Into OncologyThe 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) Descartess 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.
Key Words: cancer Descartes mind/body split hopelessness psychological prognostic factors psychooncology patients observations
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