title: Group therapy and hypnosis reduce metastatic breast carcinoma pain.
abstract: The pain and mood disturbance of 54 women with metastatic carcinoma of the breast were studied over the course of one year. A random sample was offered weekly group therapy during the year, with or without self-hypnosis training directed toward enhancing their competence at mastering pain and stress related to cancer. Both treatment groups demonstrated significantly less self-rated pain sensation (t = 2.5 p less than 0.02) and suffering (t = 2.17, p less than 0.03) than the control sample. Those who were offered the self-hypnosis training as well as group therapy fared best in controlling the pain sensation (F = 3.1, p less than 0.05). Pain frequency and duration were not affected. Changes in pain measures were significantly correlated with changes in self-rated total mood disturbance on the Profile of Mood States and with its anxiety, depression, and fatigue subscales. Possible mechanisms for the effectiveness of these interventions are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000628:therapy; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D059408:Pain Management; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics