title: A couple-based intervention for female breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although women's breast cancer affects both women and their male partners, as well as their relationships, few interventions have been developed to work with couples confronting breast cancer. The current investigation presents the pilot results from a new couple-based intervention program for breast cancer that teaches couples how to minimize negative effects and maximize positive functioning during this difficult time.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, 14 couples in which the wife had early stage breast cancer were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment conditions: Couple-based relationship enhancement (RE) or treatment-as-usual (TAU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from this study suggest that compared with couples receiving treatment-as-usual, both women and men in the RE condition experienced improved functioning on individual psychological variables as well as relationship functioning at posttest and 1-year follow-up. In addition, women in RE show fewer medical symptoms at both time periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, the couple-based intervention, RE, has shown promise in improving individual, medical, and relationship functioning for couples in which the woman is facing breast cancer, and therefore merits further investigation on a larger scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. don_baucom@unc.edu
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Baucom
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Tina M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gremore
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wiesenthal
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.forename: Steffany J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fredman
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Kim W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Halford
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Keefe
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019546:Couples Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged