title: Evaluation of a psychosocial intervention on social support, perceived control, coping strategies, emotional distress, and quality of life of breast cancer patients.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to demonstrate that a specific psychosocial intervention changes reactions to cancer and quality of life. This study was carried out on 66 patients with a first breast cancer. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: a specific intervention group (G1, 8 sessions) or a support group (G2, 8 sessions). A control group (G3) was composed of patients who refused to participate in psychological intervention. Social support, perceived control, repression of emotions, coping strategies, emotional distress, and quality of life were assessed one week before (T1) and at the end (T2) of the psychological intervention. Results showed that G1 did not have significantly modified quality of life or psychological scores. Patients of G2 had poorer emotional quality of life, use of internal causal attributions, and minimized their illness at T1 as compared to patients of G3. At Time 2 these differences were not observed.
authors: Laboratory of Health Psychology and Quality of Life, University Bordeaux Segalen, France. florence.gelie@u-bordeaux2.fr
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Cousson-Gélie
authors: Marilou
authors: M
authors: Bruchon-Schweitzer
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Atzeni
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Houede
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support