Effects of a modified group intervention with early-stage breast cancer patients.
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a psychiatric intervention program consisting of 5 weekly structured interventions and 3 additional group meetings every two months. Previous studies revealed that a 5 weekly structured intervention program was effective for alleviating psychological discomforts in Japanese breast cancer patients, and that the effectiveness persisted for 6 months for patients without lymph node metastasis or adjustment disorders. Since this 5-session intervention did not have persistent effects in patients with lymph node metastasis and/or adjustment disorders, 3 additional group meetings every two months were added after completion of the 5 weekly structured interventions. A total of 43 breast cancer patients completed the full program. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) scores were compared before, immediately after 5 sessions, immediately after the 3 additional interventions, and 6 months after all programs. As analyzed by POMS scores, the clinical effectiveness of a structured group intervention program persisted for 6 months for patients even with nodal metastases and/or adjustment disorders. These findings of the present study suggested that the 5 weekly intervention program was sufficient for patients without lymph node metastasis or adjustment disorders. In contrast, this intervention program alone was insufficient for patients with nodal metastases and/or adjustment disorders. For them, a new psychiatric intervention program consisting of 5 weekly structured interventions and 3 additional group meetings every two months were effective and sufficient.
Hosaka
T
T
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, 259-1193, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan. hosaka@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
Sugiyama
Y
Y
Hirai
K
K
Okuyama
T
T
Sugawara
Y
Y
Nakamura
Y
Y
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D007564:Japan; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome