A randomized controlled trial of psychosocial interventions using the psychophysiological framework for Chinese breast cancer patients.
This study aimed to investigate the psychophysiological outcomes of different psychosocial interventions for breast cancer patients. Participants were randomly assigned into 3 intervention groups, namely, Body-Mind-Spirit (BMS), Supportive-Expressive (SE), and Social Support Self-Help (SS) groups; a no-intervention group was used as control. Salivary cortisol was used as the physiological stress marker. Distress level, mental adjustment, emotional control, and social support were measured. Data were collected at baseline, 4 month, and 8 month. Preliminary results indicated that BMS intervention produced the greatest and the most sustained effects. It enhanced positive social support, reduced psychological distress, emotional control, and negative mental adjustment. Total salivary cortisol was lowered after 8 months. Most participants in SE groups indicated the treatment helpful, but changes in psychophysiological outcomes were not statistically significant. Participants in SS groups seemed less likely to benefit from the intervention. The no intervention control group indicated a reduction in social support. These outcomes suggest that active professional intervention is more likely to yield therapeutic effects. In particular, psychosocial intervention attending to the spiritual dimension contributes to positive outcomes.
Chan
Cecilia L W
CL
Center on Behavioral Health, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Porkfulam, Hong Kong. cecichan@hku.hk
Ho
Rainbow T H
RT
Lee
Peter W H
PW
Cheng
Josephine Y Y
JY
Leung
Pamela P Y
PP
Foo
William
W
Chow
Louis W H
LW
Sham
Jonathan S T
JS
Spiegel
David
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D011603:Psychophysiology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work
D006854:Hydrocortisone