Large-scale, controlled studies to determine the efficacy of well-established psychological therapies in the treatment of death anxiety as a transdiagnostic construct are warranted.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer (2026) · doi

  trajectory, the cancer In the future, it is necessary for researchers to utilize longitudinal study methods to explore how death anxiety and mental well, being change over time with i.e. various phases of diagnosis, active treatment, survivorship, and palliative care. These types of studies would reveal more about the time, based relationships and the possible predictive impacts. It is equally important that intervention, based studies be conducted to assess the impact of psychosocial programs that focus on death, related anxiety and enhancement of social support networks. In Indian oncology settings, culturally sensitive interventions that integrate existential therapy, meaning, cantered strategies, or well, structured family, based support models may be extremely useful. Furthermore, research designs using a combination of methods that integrate quantitative evaluations along with qualitative interviews have the potential to uncover a more profound understanding of patients personal experiences of death fear and ways of coping. Through qualitative investigations, one may gain insight into the culturally rooted meanings, spiritual beliefs, and interpersonal relations that significantly influence the psychological adjustment to a major illness. CONCLUSION This research locating the psychological aspects of gastric cancer by studying death anxiety and mental health among the patients of Punjab. The study shows that death anxiety is one of the main psychological concerns in this group and it is associated with poor mental health. Patients with a high level of death anxiety have a very low level of positive psychological functioning which shows that it is important to deal with patients' existential issues in addition to their physical symptoms in the field of oncology especially when dealing with cancer patients. Moreover, the research notes the importance of perceived social support as a helpful psychosocial factor. A greater amount of perceived social support was linked to a healthier mental state and a lessening of death anxiety which means that close and caring interpersonal relationships can help cancer patients to adjust psychologically. Thus, the research evidence highlights the necessity for IJDDT, Volume 16 Issue 40s, 2026 Page 85 Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer the psychosocial assessment and integrating provision of support in the standard cancer care play especially in tertiary oncology clinics. Even though the cross, sectional design does not allow us to make causal inferences, this research presents evidence from a particular state that enhances the limited Indian literature on the death anxiety of gastric cancer patients. Its findings indicate the necessity of regularly screening for death, related distress and the introduction of psychosocial measures geared towards social support enhancement and mental health promotion. Subsequent studies, which follow patients over time and focus on the effects of interventions, could provide more in, depth knowledge about how death anxiety and social support influence psychological reactions throughout the cancer journey. REFERENCES (2015). Meaning- Breitbart, W., Rosenfeld, B., Pessin, H., Applebaum, A., Kulikowski, J., & Lichtenthal, W. G.

  Keywords: death anxiety patients cancer support mental social psychological psychosocial well time based oncology gastric health
• Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer (2026) · doi

  Even though the article makes several important points, it also has a number of drawbacks which the authors consider worthy of mentioning. Firstly, the use of a cross, sectional research approach does not allow for a causal interpretation of the relationships found between death anxiety, perceived social support, and mental well, being. The authors did find significant correlations among these variables, but they were not able to determine the causal links with certainty. One would need to have longitudinal data to see if death anxiety really leads to changes in mental well, being at a later stage. Secondly, the research was completely based on self, report scales, which are vulnerable to a number of biases such as social desirability and recall bias. Since death is a particularly sensitive subject, some of the respondents might have repressed or downplayed their worries. Hence, the lack of psychiatrist, led evaluations or structured diagnostic interviews is a limitation both in the assessment of the gravity of psychological symptoms and their clinical relevance. Thirdly, participants came from hospitals and were diagnosed and treated in tertiary oncology centres in Punjab. Thus, it is less likely that the conclusions are applicable to patients in primary or community health care, those outside the treatment circle, or IJDDT, Volume 16 Issue 40s, 2026 Page 84 Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer people from other areas. India has a lot of cultural, economic, and medical service disparities which may affect the psychological state differently.

  Keywords: death anxiety mental well number authors causal social psychological patients even though article makes several
• Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer (2026) · doi

  Limitations Even though the article makes several important points, it also has a number of drawbacks which the authors consider worthy of mentioning. Firstly, the use of a cross, sectional research approach does not allow for a causal interpretation of the relationships found between death anxiety, perceived social support, and mental well, being. The authors did find significant correlations among these variables, but they were not able to determine the causal links with certainty. One would need to have longitudinal data to see if death anxiety really leads to changes in mental well, being at a later stage. Secondly, the research was completely based on self, report scales, which are vulnerable to a number of biases such as social desirability and recall bias. Since death is a particularly sensitive subject, some of the respondents might have repressed or downplayed their worries. Hence, the lack of psychiatrist, led evaluations or structured diagnostic interviews is a limitation both in the assessment of the gravity of psychological symptoms and their clinical relevance. Thirdly, participants came from hospitals and were diagnosed and treated in tertiary oncology centres in Punjab. Thus, it is less likely that the conclusions are applicable to patients in primary or community health care, those outside the treatment circle, or IJDDT, Volume 16 Issue 40s, 2026 Page 84 Exploring the relationship between death anxiety and mental well-being in patients with gastric cancer people from other areas. India has a lot of cultural, economic, and medical service disparities which may affect the psychological state differently.

  Keywords: death anxiety mental well number authors causal social psychological patients limitations even though article makes
• The Role of Psychological Defense Mechanisms in Managing Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients (2026) · doi

  Family and Caregiver Research Future research may examine: ● Psychological distress among caregivers ● Family adjustment processes ● Relationship between caregiver support and patient well-being This may help develop family-centered psycho-oncology interventions. Cultural and Social Factors Future studies may investigate the influence of cultural beliefs, stigma, religion, spirituality, and social support systems on defense mechanisms and psychological well-being among cancer patients. Development of Psycho-Oncology Programs Future research may focus on the effectiveness of specialized Psycho-oncology programs in improving emotional adjustment, treatment adherence, and quality of life among cancer patients. These factors were not explored in detail in the present study. Therefore, causal relationships between defense mechanisms, psychological distress, and quality of life could not be established.

  Keywords: family future psychological among psycho oncology caregiver distress adjustment support well cultural social factors defense
• Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct (2014) · doi

  Large-scale, controlled studies to determine the efficacy of well-established psychological therapies in the treatment of death anxiety as a transdiagnostic construct are warranted.

  Keywords: large scale controlled determine efficacy well established psychological therapies treatment death anxiety transdiagnostic construct warranted