Back to Authors

Parnes, Francine

Mayo Clinic

Patient Advocate

Citations 3

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Distress Management, Version 1.2026
Fann, Jesse R., Vanderlan, Jessica, Brewer, Benjamin W. , Corbett, Cheyenne , Keller, Jennifer A. , Lahijani, Sheila , Niazi, Shehzad K. , Riba, Michelle B., Braun, IIana, Breitbart, William S., Channa, Yamna, Farabelli, Jill P., Fleishman, Stewart B., Garcia, Sofia F. , Greenberg, Donna B., Handzo, George , Horyna, Amy, Hutchinson, Sean Z., Johns, Shelley A. , Cava, Shannon La, Martin, Sara , Mukherjee, Debraj, Pailler, Megan E. , Parnes, Francine, Rocha-Cadman, Xiomara, Scher, Eli D. , Schuster, Jessica, Thompson, Lora M.A., Usher, A., Valentine, Alan , Darlow, Susan, Mukherjee, Debraj , Mukherjee, Debraj , Garcia, Sofia F , Fann, Jesse R. , Andersen, Barbara L. , Atreya, Chloe Evelyn , Breitbart, William S., Greenberg, Donna, Huang, Chao‐Hui , Leeper, Heather , Rao, Vinay P. , Rocha‐Cadman, Xiomara , Thompson, Lora M.A., Montgomery, Sarah E.

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network | April 9, 2026 | Volume: 24 | Issue: 4 | Pages: No page available

10.6004/jnccn.2026.0018 Get It

These NCCN Guidelines for Distress Management discuss the identification and treatment of psychosocial problems in patients with cancer. They are intended to assist oncology teams to identify patients who require referral to psychosocial resources and to give oncology teams guidance on interventions for patients with significant distress. These guidelines also provide guidance for social workers, certified chaplains, and mental health professionals by describing treatments and interventions for various psychosocial problems as they relate to patients with cancer. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel’s most recent recommendations regarding standards of care for distress management in patients with cancer and implementation of these standards, including application of evidence-based care delivery models, such as the collaborative care model.
NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Distress Management, Version 2.2023
Riba, Michelle B., Donovan, Kristine A. , Ahmed, Kauser , Braun, IIana, Breitbart, William , Brewer, Benjamin W. , Corbett, Cheyenne , Fleishman, Stewart B., Garcia, Sofia F. , Greenberg, Donna, Handzo, George , Hoofring, Laura, Hutchinson, Sean Z., Johns, Shelley A. , Keller, Jennifer A. , Kumar, Pallavi , Lahijani, Sheila , Martin, Sara , Niazi, Shehzad K. , Pailler, Megan E. , Parnes, Francine, Salman, Jaroslava, Scher, Eli D. , Schuster, Jessica , Teply, Melissa , Usher, A., Valentine, Alan , Vanderlan, Jessica, Lyons, Megan S., McMillian, Nicole R., Darlow, Susan, Garcia, Sofia F , Andersen, Barbara L. , Fann, Jesse R. , Huang, Chao‐Hui , Rao, Vinay P.

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network | May 8, 2023 | Volume: 21 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 450-457

10.6004/jnccn.2023.0026 Get It

These NCCN Guidelines for Distress Management discuss the identification and treatment of psychosocial problems in patients with cancer. All patients experience some level of distress associated with a cancer diagnosis and the effects of the disease and its treatment regardless of the stage of disease. Clinically significant levels of distress occur in a subset of patients, and identification and treatment of distress are of utmost importance. The NCCN Distress Management Panel meets at least annually to review comments from reviewers within their institutions, examine relevant new data from publications and abstracts, and reevaluate and update their recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights describe updates to the NCCN Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List, and to the treatment algorithms for patients with trauma- and stressor-related disorders.
Distress Management, Version 3.2019, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology
Riba, Michelle B., Donovan, Kristine A. , Andersen, Barbara L. , Braun, IIana, Breitbart, William , Brewer, Benjamin W. , Buchmann, Luke, Clark, Matthew M. , Collins, Molly, Corbett, Cheyenne , Fleishman, Stewart B., Garcia, Sofia F. , Greenberg, Donna, Handzo, Rev. George F., Hoofring, Laura, Huang, Chao‐Hui , Martin, Sara , McGuffey, Lisa, Mitchell, William M. , Morrison, Laura , Pailler, Megan E. , Parnes, Francine, Pazar, Janice P., Ralston, Laurel, Salman, Jaroslava, Shannon-Dudley, Moreen, Valentine, Alan , McMillian, Nicole R., Darlow, Susan, Garcia, Sofia F , Handzo, Rev. George F., Lally, Robin Mary , Mitchell, William, Palesh, Oxana Gronskaya

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network | October 7, 2019 | Volume: 17 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 1229-1249

10.6004/jnccn.2019.0048 Get It

Distress is defined in the NCCN Guidelines for Distress Management as a multifactorial, unpleasant experience of a psychologic (ie, cognitive, behavioral, emotional), social, spiritual, and/or physical nature that may interfere with the ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms, and its treatment. Early evaluation and screening for distress leads to early and timely management of psychologic distress, which in turn improves medical management. The panel for the Distress Management Guidelines recently added a new principles section including guidance on implementation of standards of psychosocial care for patients with cancer.