Supportive-expressive group therapy for primary breast cancer patients: a randomized prospective multicenter trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized 12-week supportive-expressive group therapy program among primary breast cancer patients treated in community settings, to determine whether highly distressed patients were most likely to benefit and whether therapist's training or experience was related to outcome.


METHODS
Three hundred and fifty-three women within one year of diagnosis with primary breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive supportive-expressive group therapy or to an education control condition. Participants were recruited from two academic centers and nine oncology practices, which were members of NCI's Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) and were followed over 2 years.


RESULTS
A 2x2x19 analysis of variance was conducted with main effects of treatment condition, cohort, and baseline distress and their interactions. There was no main effect for treatment condition after removing one subject with an extreme score. Highly distressed women did not derive a greater benefit from treatment. Therapist training and psychotherapy experience were not associated with a treatment effect.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides no evidence of reduction in distress as the result of a brief supportive-expressive intervention for women with primary breast cancer. Future studies might productively focus on women with higher initial levels of distress.
Classen
Catherine C
CC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada.
Kraemer
Helena C
HC
Blasey
Christine
C
Giese-Davis
Janine
J
Koopman
Cheryl
C
Palesh
Oxana Gronskaya
OG
Atkinson
Ami
A
Dimiceli
Sue
S
Stonisch-Riggs
Gail
G
Westendorp
Joan
J
Morrow
Gary R
GR
Spiegel
David
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support