title: Pilot study: retreat intervention predicts improved quality of life and reduced psychological distress among breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effectiveness of a week-long residential retreat intervention incorporating photographic art therapy in concert with psychoanalytically oriented group therapy and mind-body practices in reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life (QoL) and spiritual well-being for breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 female breast cancer patients completed self report assessments of psychological distress, QoL, and spiritual well-being on the first day of the retreat, the last day of the retreat, and a 6 week follow up assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures MANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons revealed the retreat experience to predict significant and sustained reductions in depression, anxiety, and somatic stress, coupled with sustained improvements in QoL and spiritual well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings suggest that breast cancer patients may benefit from participation in a week-long multi-modal retreat center experience involving photographic art therapy and structured group therapy as a means to explore personal strain.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA. evella@usm.maine.edu
authors: Elizabeth J
authors: EJ
authors: Vella
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Budd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001155:Art Therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*