Psychological improvement in infertile women after behavioral treatment: a replication.
OBJECTIVE
To replicate previously reported psychological improvements in infertile women attending a group behavioral treatment program.


METHODS
Psychological and demographic data were collected before entering and again upon completion of a behavioral medicine program on a second cohort of patients.


METHODS
The program was offered in the Division of Behavioral Medicine, an outpatient clinic of the Department of Medicine at New England Deaconess Hospital. All patients were receiving care from infertility specialists not affiliated with this hospital.


METHODS
Fifty two self-referred women receiving medical treatment for infertility attended the program.


METHODS
A 10-week group behavioral treatment program.


METHODS
Three validated psychological instruments.


RESULTS
Psychological improvement was statistically significant (Profile of Mood States Tension/Anxiety: P less than 0.0001; Depression/Dejection: P less than 0.0122; Vigor/Activity: P less than 0.0431; Confusion/Bewilderment: P less than 0.0057; Spielberger Anger Expression: P less than 0.0013; Spielberger State Anxiety: P less than 0.0037, and Trait Anxiety: P less than 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral treatment is associated with significant decreases in negative psychological symptoms.
Domar
A D
AD
Department of Medicine, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
Zuttermeister
P C
PC
Seibel
M
M
Benson
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires