title: A group cognitive behaviour therapy programme with metastatic breast cancer patients.
abstract: One-hundred and twenty-four patients with metastatic breast cancer were randomised to either a group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) intervention, or to a no-therapy control group condition. Both groups received standard oncological care; however, therapy recipients also attended eight weekly sessions of group CBT, followed by a family night, and three further monthly sessions. Patients completed the 'Profile of Mood States' (POMS) and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSI) before and after therapy, and at 3 and 6 month follow-up periods. Outcome data in the period following therapy showed reduced depression and total mood disturbance, as well as improved self-esteem amongst therapy participants, relative to a no-therapy control group. These improvements were no longer evident at the 3 or 6 month follow-up assessments. We also report on the difficulties associated with conducting a group intervention with this patient cohort.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Unit, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia. sarah.edelman@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edelman
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kidman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome