title: Effects of a structured psychiatric intervention on immune function of cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of mood state and coping styles on the immune function in Japanese breast cancer patients who participated in a structured group intervention program. The program consisted of five-weekly 90-minute sessions, including psycho-education, psychological support, problem-solving technique and relaxation/imagery. Out of 77 breast cancer patients who participated in this program, 34 were eligible for measurement of immune functions because they received adjuvant chemotherapy. Comparison of the pre- and post-intervention scores of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) revealed significant decreases in Depression (p < 0.05), Lack-of-Vigor (p < 0.01), Tension-Anxiety (p < 0.01), Confusion (p < 0.05) and Total Mood Disturbances (p < 0.01), as expected. Concerning coping styles, there were tendencies to decrease the score of active-cognitive coping (p = 0.09), although the differences were not statistically significant. In contrast, the pre- and post-intervention values of immune parameters such as CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/8 and natural-killer cell activity showed no significant differences. In this report, we discuss several possibilities underlying these findings. Further studies with a larger number of subjects and controls are needed to reach conculusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan. hosaka@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuyama
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome