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The psychological effects of two group therapy intervention models with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer patients were evaluated. Sixty women were randomized to attend either 12 sessions of group Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) or a supportive therapy group. Self-report psychological assessments were completed before and after therapy, and at 4 months follow-up. In the period following therapy, patients in both groups showed significant reductions in depression, quality of life and self-esteem relative to their baseline scores. Patients in the CBT group also showed significant improvements in quality of life and self-esteem relative to those in the supportive therapy group. These differences were no longer apparent at the 4-month follow-up. The findings suggest that a group CBT intervention generates greater short-term benefits than a supportive therapy group among primary breast cancer patients. Some limitations of the design are discussed.
It is widely recognized that patients who are diagnosed with cancer frequently suffer major distress following their diagnosis, and are at high risk for developing psychological morbidity (Derogatis et al., 1983; Kissane et al., 1998; Zabora et al., 1997). For patients diagnosed with breast cancer, between 25% and 30% have been found to suffer from anxiety and/or depression at 12 months following diagnosis (Maguire et al., 1978; Morris, Greer, & White, 1977). Many patients also experience disturbed self-esteem, sexual difficulties and relationship problems following their diagnosis and treatment (Burish & Lyles, 1983; Lehmann et al., 1978; Massie & Holland, 1991; Meyerowitz, 1980).
In the last three decades, as advances in the medical treatment of cancer have led to improved survival rates, increasing attention has been focused on patients' psychological well-being. Thus a number of psycho-social interventions aimed at helping cancer patients adjust to the disease and its treatment have been developed.
Groups have become a common format for the delivery of therapy, largely due to their cost-effectiveness and their potential to confer additional benefits to patients through peer support. In their review of various cancer patient groups, Krupnick, Rowland, Goldberg, and Daniel (1993) state that despite the large variety of group formats that have been applied, most groups can be categorized as being either predominantly "supportive" or "educational." Supportive groups focus largely on group discussion and aim to address affective issues and concerns. Educational groups...