Professor of Medical Psychology
Department of
Radiation and Clinical Oncology
Sharett Institute of Oncology
Hadassah University Hospital
Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Telephone 972-2-566-4701
Cellphone 050-787-4966
Fax: 972-2-566-3686
Email: baider@cc.huji.ac.il or
rnlobel@bezeqint.net
Born
1939 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Academic Degrees
1957 - B.A., Education, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1963 - M.A., Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1973 - Ph.D., Medical Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S. Dissertation: Family Structure and the Process of Dying: A Study of Cancer Patients and their Family Interaction
Present Position
· Full Professor of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University Medical School, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem
· Director, Psycho-Oncology Unit, Sharett Institute of Oncology, Department of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem
· President, Israel Psycho-Oncology Society, 1995-present
Honors and Awards
1968-1969 Pan American Union: Organization of Latin American Nations, Fellowship awarded for studies in Sociology in Latin America
1970 - The Massachusetts Medical Foundation: Research on “Psychological Aspects of Medical Oncology,” Boston, Massachusetts
1974-1975 John Simon Guggenheim Award: Study of “Psychological and Cultural Aspects of Cancer Patients,” Boston, Massachusetts
1986 - Avery Weisman Award: Psychosomatic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
1995 - Faculty of Medicine Award: Work in Psycho-Oncology, Hadassah Medical School, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
1999 - Cora Lobscheidstftung Award: Research on Health and Gender Differentiation in Oncology, Albert-Ludwigs Universitat, Freiburg Psychologisches Institut, Freiburg, Germany
2004 - Arthur Sutherland Memorial Prize: Work in Psycho-Oncology, Executive Board of the International Psycho-Oncology Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004 - Certificate of Recognition from the President of Israel and the Israel Cancer Association: Contribution to the field of Psycho-Oncology in Israel.
Academic Positions
1956-1967 Instructor, Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
1969-1970 Instructor, Department of Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
1970-1971 Instructor, Department of Sociology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
1973-1974 Lecturer in Family Therapy, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Hospital, Haifa, Israel
1975-1980 Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
1981-1982 Visiting Lecturer, School of Public Health, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas
1982-1984 Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Psychiatry), Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
1984 todate - Director, Psycho-Oncology Unit, Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah
present University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
1986 - Visiting Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
(4 months) Research Institute, New York, New York
1988 to 2000 - Associate Professor of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Oncology, Hebrew University and Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
1992 - Visiting Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer (3 months) Research Institute, New York, New York
Professional Experience
1967 - Research Fellow, Tufts Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
1967-1968 Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
1968-1969 Consulting Psychologist, Boston University Medical School and Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
1968-1972 Research Fellow, Shattuck Hospital, Oncology Department, Boston, Massachusetts
1970-1973 Clinical Psychologist, Shattuck Hospital, Oncology Department, Boston, Massachusetts
1971 - Coordinator and Supervisor of Individual and Group Therapy, Drug Addiction Program, Boston University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
1972-1973 Supervisor of Training Program in Family Therapy, Boston University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
1974-1975 Post-Doctoral Fellow in Family Medicine, Tel Aviv University Medical School Tel Hashomer Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel
1979-1980 Senior Psychologist, Department of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, Sharett Institute, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
1981-1982 Psychologist and Research Consultant, Department of Patient Care, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas
Editorial Board Membership - International Journals
- Journal of Psychosocial Oncology (1983-current)
- Psycho-Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer (1991-current)
- The Hospice Journal (1994-current)
- Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology (1998-current)
International and Local Appointments
· President, International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), 1995-1998
· Chairperson, Committee of Training and Education, IPOS, 2000-current
· Chairperson, Seventh International Conference of European Society of Psycho Oncology (ESPO), Jerusalem, Israel, 1993
· President, Israel Psycho-Oncology Society, 1995-present
· Psycho-Oncology Consultant, Israel Cancer Association
· Director, Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital
Memberships
§ Fellow, International College of Psychosomatic Medicine
§ New York Academy of Sciences
§ International Psycho-Oncology Society
§ European Psycho-Oncology Society
§ Israel Psychological Association
§ Israel Association of Hypnotherapy
Research Grants Awarded
1970-1980 The Israel Cancer Association, “The Study of Psycho-Social Vulnerability of Cancer Patients in Israel”
1980-1981 The Israel Cancer Association, “The Development of Methods of Early Identification and Treatment of Psycho-Social Problems of Cancer Patients”
1984-1985 The Israel Cancer Association, “Factors Influencing the Adaptation and Quality of Life of Women with Ovarian Cancer and their Families”
1985-1987 The Foundation of Cancer Research in Israel, “The Psychosocial Vulnerability of Cancer Patients and Psychotherapeutic Treatment”
1986-1987 The Israel Cancer Association, “Denial and Adjustment in Patients with Colon Carcinoma”
1987-1988 The Israel Cancer Association, “Holocaust Survivors Cancer Patients – The Influence of Past Severe Stress on the Coping with Present Stresses”
1988-1989 The Israel Cancer Association, “Group Relaxation: Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery in Cancer Patients.”
1990-1991 The Israel Cancer Association, “Psychological Intervention for Holocaust Survivors Cancer Patients.”
1990-1991 The N. Merberg Memorial Fellowship, ICRF, “Gender of Patients and Spouses Adjustment to Cancer.”
1991-1993 F. Rentschler Arzneimittel GmbH and Co., Department of Psychosomatics, University of Ulm, Germany. T. Peretz, A. Kaplan De-Nour, V. Barak, et al., “Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer with Tomoxifen plus Interferon.”
1992-1995 The Federal Ministry for Research and Technology, Germany and Israel. Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Freiburg and Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital. U. Koch, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Effects and Predictability of Short-Term Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery with Different Groups of Cancer Patients.”
1994 - The Cummings Foundation, New York. “Mind-Body Interaction.”
1995-1997 The Cummings Foundation and Fetzer Foundation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center; Department of Psychiatry and Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital. J. Holland, L. Baider, and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “The Role of Spiritual and Religious Beliefs in Patients Coping with Malignant Melanoma.”
1995-1996 The Israel Cancer Association, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Patients and Physicians Perception of Actual and Ideal Doctors.”
1996-1997 The Israel Cancer Association, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Patients and Physicians Perception of Actual and Ideal Doctors, Part II.”
1997-1998 The Israel Cancer Association, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Second-Generation Holocaust Survivors-Cancer Patients.”
1998-1999 The Israel Cancer Association, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Second-Generation Holocaust Survivors-Healthy Population.”
1999-2001 F. Attinger Foundation, “Transmission of Trauma: First and Second-Generation Holocaust Survivors Cancer Patients.”
2000-2002 Karl-Franzens Universitat, Graz, Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Oncology, “Cross-Cultural Analyses of Breast Cancer Patients.”
The Israel Cancer Association, L. Baider and A. Kaplan De-Nour, “Psychological Adaptation to Cancer: Prospective Study of Patients with Prostate Cancer and their Spouses.”
International Conferences: invited presentations
1982 - Third International Working Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement, Stockholm, Sweden. “Cultural Aspects of Cancer Patients in Israel”
1982 - Fourth International Seminar on Terminal Care, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. “When Jewish Patients and Families Confront Death”
1984 - First European Conference, Vienna, Austria. Recent Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. “Time-Limited Thematic Group Therapy with Post mastectomy Patients”
1984 - First International Symposium of Psychology and Oncology, The Spanish Association of Cancer, Barcelona, Spain. “Coping and Vulnerability in Cancer Patients”
1984 - Third European Conference, Jerusalem, Israel. Reach to Recovery. “Volunteers Group Training”
1985 - First International Symposium on Denial, Jerusalem, Israel. “Beyond Denial: Replacement Fantasies in Patients with Life-Threatening Illness”
1987 - International Symposium of Psycho-Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Mexico City, Mexico. Keynote address: “Therapeutic intervention with families of cancer patients”
1988 - International Symposium on Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients, University of Freiburg, Germany. “Cancer Patients and their Spouses: Couple Interaction, Communication and Perception of Illness Situation”
1988 - Institute of Family Therapy, Mexico National Cancer Institute, Mexico. Keynote address: “Cancer and the Family”
1989 - Sixteenth International Congress on Chemotherapy, Jerusalem, Israel. Special Symposium: “Quality of Life - The Psychological Impact of Cancer Chemotherapy”
Aug 1990 - Fifteenth International Cancer Congress - UICC, Hamburg, Germany. Invited speaker: “Coping with Cancer: Long Term and Adaptive Aspects”
Oct 1990 - Symposium on Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Keynote address: “Between Denial and Fantasies in Patients with Life-Threatening Illness”
Nov 1990 - The Spanish Cancer Association and National Institute of Oncology, Valencia, Spain. Keynote address: “Psychological Intervention with Couples of Breast Cancer Patients”
May 1991 - German Society of Psycho-Oncology, Germany. Opening Lecturer: “Between Empathy and Objectivity”, Workshop: “Hypnosis with Cancer Patients”
Nov 1991 - The Austrian Society of Psycho-Oncology, Austria. Keynote address: “Cancer: A Family Affair”
Sep 1993 - Twelfth World Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine, Switzerland. “Concept of Rehabilitation”
Oct 1993 - “New Approaches in Therapy of Breast Cancer” and “Quality of Life - Basic Concepts and Assessment Problems”. Ulm, Germany
Nov 1994 - Sixteenth International Cancer Congress - UICC, New Delhi, India. Keynote address: “System of Belief and Coping with Cancer”
Jan 1995 - Swiss Cancer League, Flims, Switzerland. Invited Speaker: “Psychotherapeutic Intervention in Cancer Patients”
Oct 1995 - Second International Congress on Psycho-Oncology, Kobe, Japan. Keynote address: “Intrusion and Psychological Distress”
Mar 1995 - World Conference for Cancer Organizations, Melbourne, Australia. Invited Speaker: “Outcome Measures on Families with Cancer”
Mar 1996 - Mind, Immunity and Health Conference, Lorne, Victoria, Australia. Keynote Address: “Holocaust Survivors Cancer Patients: What They Can Teach Us”
May 1997 - Japan Psycho-Oncology Conference, Tokyo, Japan. Keynote Address: “Psycho-Oncology: Towards the Year 2000”
Sep 1998 - International Psycho-Oncology Society Conference, Hamburg, Germany. Invited Speaker: “Couples and Cancer”
Jun 1999 - International Psycho-Oncology Conference, Graz, Austria. Keynote Address: “Family and Cancer: Theory and Research”
Sep 1999 - ECCO 10 - The European Cancer Conference, Vienna, Austria. Keynote Address: “Do Families Benefit from Psychological Intervention?”
Jun 2000 - International Symposium on Palliative Care and Terminal Illness, Lisbon, Portugal. Invited Speaker: “Fear and Denial among Oncologists and Physicians.”
Sep 2001 - Danish Cancer Society International Symposium on Psycho-Social Research, Copenhagen, Denmark. Invited Speaker: “Research on Outcomes of Interventions on Couples and Families.”
Jul 2002 - International Congress of “Union of International Cancer Care” (UICC), Oslo, Norway. Invited Speaker: “Gender Differentiation and Cancer.”
Mar 2004 - 4th European Breast Cancer Conference, Hamburg, Germany. Invited Speaker: “Who is the Patient? Psychological Distress of Breast Cancer Couples.”
Aug 2004 - International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark. Keynote Speaker: “Attachment, Loneliness and Social Support.”
May 2005 - American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Florida, United States. Invited Speaker: “Gender Differentiation in Cancer.”
PUBLICATIONS
Articles in Journals - see PubMed
Chapters in Books
1. Baider, L., Family structure and the process of dying: a study of cancer patients and their family interaction. Ph.D. Dissertation, Brandeis University Publication 73, Michigan Publications, Illinois Dissertation Abstracts, 34(1), 1973.
2. Baider, L., Introduction to the sociology of the family: some concepts and approaches. In Family Medicine: Principles and Application, J. Medalie (Ed.), Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Chapter 3, pp. 29-36, 1978.
3. Baider, L., On death and dying. In Family Medicine: Principles and Application, J. Medalie (Ed.), Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Chapter 15, pp. 213-215, 1978.
4. Baider, L. and Rosenfeld, E., A compensatory community environment for the culturally disadvantaged child. In The Child and his Family, Anthony and Koupernik (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 619-642, 1978.
5. Baider, L., Private experience and public expectation. In Stress and Survival, C. Garfield (Ed.), C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, Chapter 22, pp. 193-198, 1979.
6. Baider, L., Communication in a family with a dying patient. In Review of Family Therapy, G. Berenson (Ed.), Human Science Press, New York, Chapter 10,
pp. 231-241, 1982.
7. Baider, L., Reach to Recovery volunteers: a dynamic training. In Reach to Recovery: Third European Conference, Comelli Fils a Meudon Press, Paris, pp. 171-181, 1985.
8. Baider, L. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., Breast cancer: a family affair. In Stress and Breast Cancer, C.L. Cooper (Ed.), John Wiley & Sons, London and New York, Chapter 8,
pp. 155-170, 1988.
9. Baider, L. and Edelstein, E.L., Beyond denial: replacement fantasies in patients with life-threatening illness. In Denial: A Theoretical Clarification of Concepts and Research, E.L. Edelstein, D. Nathanson and A. Stone (Eds.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 237-251, 1989.
10.Baider, L. and Kaplan, De-Nour, A., Is the spouse an effective support for the cancer patient? In Cancer Rehabilitation and Psycho-Oncology, U. Koch and F. Potreck-Rose (Eds.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin and New York, pp. 38-48, 1990.
11.Baider, L., Peretz, T. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., The impact of trauma on coping with cancer. In Krankheits - Verarbeitung, E. Heim and M. Perrez (Eds.), Verlang GmbH and Co., Gotingen, pp. 117-126, 1994.
12.Kaplan De-Nour, A. and Baider, L., Effect of chronic illness on family function: a clinical study. In Family Issues, Dan G. Hertz (Ed.), Gefen, Israel, pp. 113-124, 1994.
13.Baider, L., Kaufman, B., Ever-Hadani, P. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., A destiny of hope: immigrant couples coping with multiple stresses. In The Handbook of Stress Medicine, C.L. Cooper (Ed.), CRC Press, New York, Chapter 15, pp. 291-306, 1995.
14.Baider, L., Manor, O., Ever-Hadani, P., Kaufman, B., Peretz, T. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., Mutuality of fate: adaptation and psychological distress in cancer patients and their partners. In Cancer and the Family, L. Baider, C.L. Cooper and A. Kaplan De-Nour (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, London and New York, Section III, Chapter 9, 1995.
15.Baider L., Uziely, B. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., The impact of perceived behavior on patient-physician communication. In Communication with the Cancer Patient: Information and Truth, A. Surbone and M. Zwitter (Eds.), New York Academy of Sciences, New York, 1997.
16.Baider, L. and Kaplan De-Nour, A., Cancer and couples - its impact on the healthy partner: Methodological considerations. In Cancer and the Family (Second Revised Edition), L. Baider, C.L. Cooper and A. Kaplan De-Nour (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, London and New York, Section I, Chapter 3, 2000.
Books
1. Baider, L., Cooper, C.L. and Kaplan De-Nour, A. (Eds.), Cancer and the Family, John Wiley & Sons, London and New York, 1995.
2. Baider, L., Cooper, C.L. and Kaplan De-Nour, A. (Eds.), Cancer and the Family (Second Revised Edition), John Wiley & Sons, London and New York, 2000.
Areas of Research
1. Systems of belief in coping with cancer
A number of studies have documented that religious beliefs among cancer patients correlate significantly with decreased levels of psychological distress, decreased social isolation and higher quality of life (35% of oncology patients consider themselves religious). We have started to explore the extent to which reliance on a personal spiritual and/or religious belief system plays a role in reducing distress, improving coping abilities and adherence to medical protocols (chemotherapy-radiotherapy).
2. Communication: doctor-patient perception
Communication is the oldest and most important medical and psychological skill. It is often taken for granted and rarely included in the curriculum of medical schools – its omission is particularly deleterious for the first-year pre-clinic students. Yet, communication remains the single most important tool of the medical profession. We believe that the doctor-patient relationship - especially in Oncology – is a crucial factor in patients complying with their treatment and in raising their quality of life. A number of our publications discuss the results of doctor-patient perception of the actual and ideal physician, using several groups from the oncology population.
3. Families/spouses of cancer patients
We believe that cancer is a family affair; especially in Israel, which is sociologically considered a “familial society”. Cancer is not an isolated illness only to be experienced by the patient but one that affects every member of the family. Several of our studies have focused on how the health partner is influenced by or can influence the sick partner’s behavior. It is our assumption that partners and/or families cannot always serve as a conduit for social support and that they themselves are at high psychological risk. We have edited a book devoted entirely to this subject, with a second edition published in May 2000 by John Wiley and Sons.
4. Illness and gender differentiation
Cancer is the most common disease for both genders and for all age groups in the Western world – including Israel. However, the way men and women adjust and cope with the psychological distress of being diagnosed with cancer is fundamentally different. Socio cultural norms of the expected “sick role” partially explain the differences in patient behavior according to gender. Our research suggests a strong bias in illness behavior, which is most likely culturally and socially based.
5. Psychological and behavioral interventions of cancer patients and their families
Psychological intervention treatment involves both individual and group dynamics. Progressive Muscle Relaxation has proven efficacy and deserves to be included as a standard component in biomedical treatment for all cancer patients during all stages of their illness. Being aware of the methodological complexities of measuring results, one of our studies on the subject shows a significant reduction in psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in a group of patients with various cancer.
6. First and Second-Generation Holocaust survivors: coping with a life-threatening illness
All the literature suggests that the second-generation Holocaust survivor experiences high emotional distress and coping problems when confronted with stress. We propose that this traumatized population, in which one of the offspring is diagnosed with cancer, continue to be studied. We hypothesize that the psychological profile of this population is transmitted from parent to child (second generation), making him/her excessively vulnerable. We predict that the second generation will react to a life-threatening situation, such as cancer, by exhibiting high psychological distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms. This study could provide access to other highly traumatized populations, such as those who have experienced long-term imprisonment, been political refugees or victims of war and of long-term violence. The Psycho-Oncology Unit of Hadassah has gained worldwide recognition on the subject through our funded research projects and publications.
7. Cross-cultural research: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Jerusalem – Institute of Oncology Graz
In May 2000, we began a two to three-year prospective study with the Oncology Institute at Graz University Hospital in Austria on the subject of “Breast cancer women and their partners: effects of age and occupation on adaptation and quality of life.”