The objectives of the Psycho-Oncology Clinic of the Institut Jules Bordet are:
- the psychological and psychiatric management of the patients and/or those close to them,
- the development of clinical research projects,
- healthcare-provider/patient communication training and psycho-oncology training in general.
The common objective of the psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, neuropsychologists and smoking cessation specialists of the Psycho-Oncology Clinic is to preserve and improve the quality of life of patients with or who have had cancer. They are available for the patients themselves and for those close to them (children, partners, siblings, etc.).
Individually, the Psycho-Oncology Clinic of the Institut Jules Bordet offers:
• psychological and psychiatric management specific to the problems found in oncology,
• psychotherapies,
• neuropsychological consultations for carrying out an assessment and a possible treatment of cognitive disorders,
• assistance with smoking cessation
In group, the Psycho-Oncology Clinic offers:
• psychotherapeutic measures to help patients to better regulate their emotions,
• interventions for smoking cessation
For families, the Psycho-Oncology Clinic offers:
• psychological consultations intended for the patient and those around them, in a couple or as a family.
• Bordet'n Family activities to better manage the repercussions of the disease on the family.
The measures are directed at anyone with or having suffered from cancer, as well as at those close to them. The support can take place during the patient’s hospitalisation and/or in consultations.
During hospitalisation, the involvement of the psychologists, psychotherapists and neuropsychologists is included in the price of the hospital stay. Outpatient and day hospital interventions are subject to fees. The involvement of the psychiatrist is always subject to fees.
The care given by the Psycho-Oncology Clinic is multidisciplinary. It is given in close collaboration with the other staff working at the Institut Jules Bordet (doctors, nurses, welfare workers, dieticians, etc.).
Several members of the Psycho-Oncology Clinic are involved in teaching in the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Psychological Sciences, the Schools of Nursing and training in palliative care.
The members of the Psycho-Oncology Clinic are regular trainers in the Interuniversity Certificate in Psycho-Oncology. In addition, they offer training in healthcare-provider/patient communication accessible to all caregivers (doctors, nurses, psychologists and paramedics) working in oncology in Belgium.
Research projects
The Psycho-Oncology Clinic has developed specific and valuable collaborations with the ASBL Psycho-Oncology Centre and with the Psychosomatic and Psycho-Oncology Research Unit of the ULB. Each research project is based on this collaboration and is coordinated by a member of the Psycho-Oncology Clinic, under the supervision of Prof. Darius Razavi.
Project 1
Better control over emotions in day-to-day life: a study evaluating the impact of a group psychological intervention for patients whose cancer is in remission
- Project leader : Isabelle Merckaert
- Collaboration : Centre de Psycho-Oncologie et l’Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB).
- Financing : /
Project 2
Better control over emotions in day-to-day life: a study evaluating the impact of a group psychological intervention for patients with a metastatic cancer.
- Project leader : Florence Lewis et Isabelle Merckaert
- Collaboration : Centre de Psycho-Oncologie et l’Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB)
- Financing : L’Association Jules Bordet, Fonds Désiré et Simone Drieghe Miller (géré par la Fondation Roi Baudouin).
Projet 3
Study of the development of cognitive fatigue in young patients in remission from breast cancer.
- Porteur de projet : Isabelle Merckaert
- Collaboration : Centre de Psycho-Oncologie et l’Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB).
- Financement : /
Project 4
BORDET’N FAMILY: SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO INCLUDE A CANCER patient
- Project leader : Aurore Liénard
- Collaborations : Hôpital Erasme, Centre de Psycho-Oncologie et l’Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB).
- Financing : L’Association Jules Bordet
Project 5
THE CHILD AND A SICK PARENT: A PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN
- Project leader : Aurore Liénard
- Collaborations : Centre de Psycho-Oncologie et l’Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB).
- Financing : L’Association Jules Bordet, Fonds Thierry Maricq & Véronique Detournay (géré par la Fondation Roi Baudouin).
Project 6
TRANSVERSE, LONGITUDINAL AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON THE DESIRE OF A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM A CANCEROUS DISEASE AND THEIR PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO COMMUNICATE ON THE SUBJECT OF ADVANCE CARE PLANNING
- Project leader : Yves Libert
- Collaborations : Unité de Recherche en Psychosomatique et Psycho-oncologie (ULB), Service d'oncologie médicale, de radiothérapie, d'hématologie, de chirurgie (Institut Jules Bordet).
- Financing : Fonds Gaston Ithier, L'Association Jules Bordet.
Our team
Head of Clinic
Dr Darius Razavi – Psychiatrist
Psychologist Coordinators
Yves Libert
Aurore Liénard
Psychologists and Psychotherapists
France Delevallez
Florence Lewis
Serge Marchal
Isabelle Merckaert
Pauline Waroquier
Neuro-psychologist
Cindy Borghgraef
Smoking cessation specialists
Martial Bodo
Hilde Vandecasteele
Psychologists, psychotherapists and smoking cessation specialists (consultants)
Marie Caillier
Laure Chaix de Lavarène
Victorine Detraux
Ariane Fauconnier
Diane Gillet de Chalonge
Lucie Ponsard
Oriane Verkaeren
03/03/2022
Scientific publications
Improving emotion regulation in breast cancer patients in the early survivorship period: Efficacy of a brief ecologically boosted group intervention.
Authors : Merckaert I, Waroquier P, Caillier M, Verkaeren O, Righes S, Liénard A, Libert Y, Kristanto P, Razavi D
Year : 2023
Journal : Psychooncology
Frailty in older adults with cancer (Fabio Gomez, editor) - Part III : Breast cancer in older adults with frailty
Authors : Dal Lago L, De Caluwe A, Borghgraef C, Dumont L, Pepersack T
Year : 2022
Journal : Book
Volume : part III
Pages : 303 - 318
Psychological factors associated with clinical fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients in the early survivorship period.
Authors : Waroquier P, Delevallez F, Razavi D, Merckaert I
Year : 2022
Journal : Psychooncology
Volume : 31
Pages : 1877-1885
A randomized controlled trial assessing behavioral, cognitive, emotional and physiological changes resulting from a communication skills training in physicians caring for cancer patients.
Authors : Libert Y, Peternelj L, Bragard I, Marchal S, Reynaert C, Slachmuylder JL, Razavi D
Year : 2022
Journal : Patient Educ Couns
Volume : 105
Pages : 2888-2898
Psychological interventions targeting patients with metastatic cancer and prolonged survival expectancies: advances and challenges.
Authors : Righes S, Lewis F, Waroquier P, Delevallez F, Merckaert I
Year : 2022
Journal : Curr Opin Oncol
Volume : 34
Pages : 256-264