Group cognitive behavioural therapy with cancer patients: the views of women participants on a short-term intervention.
At present many emotionally distressed cancer patients receive no psychological intervention. The aim of this paper is to examine and report qualitatively on the experiences of a small group of seven newly diagnosed women who underwent a group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) programme. The GCBT programme was part of a larger piece of research comparing patients' experiences of GCBT with that of group social support or no group programme of support. Following the 8-week GCBT programme, qualitative analysis of interview data revealed that patients had learned the skills required to challenge and solve problems and to use the cognitive model and effectively employ behavioural exercises to generate improved coping. The results also suggest that a GCBT programme with newly diagnosed cancer patients may need to allow cancer patients considerable opportunities to ventilate feelings and engage in social support with other patients, this being regarded as a highly valuable component to build into a GCBT programme.
Bottomley
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Cancer Support Centre, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Andbot@Globalnet.co.uk
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors