title: Naturalistic study on the effectiveness of psycho-oncological interventions in cancer patients and their partners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence for the efficacy of psycho-oncological interventions (POI) in randomized controlled trials for cancer patients. Our objective was to explore, under naturalistic conditions (using propensity score matching), whether POI are effective to decrease anxiety, depression, distress and overall psychopathological symptoms within cancer patients and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in the Oncology and Hematology Center of a University clinic in Switzerland with a group of 186 patients and 117 partners. Outcome measures of mental health were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Symptom Checklist (SCL-9-K). Repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to analyze change over time and group effects between individuals with POI vs. without POI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highly distressed patients and their partners participating in POI reported better mental health over time. Among moderately distressed patients, a decrease over time emerged in depression and distress independent of POI. No effectiveness of POI could be demonstrated in moderately distressed patients and partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the highly distressed patients receive additional POI and therefore conclusions about the efficacy of POI are difficult. For moderately distressed individuals, POI as implemented in Switzerland does not improve mental health in such patients and their partners, which may be caused by very time limited POI treatments. Studies with more intense POI treatments are needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Division of Social and Behavioral Health Research, University of Bern, Niesenweg 6, 3012, Bern, Switzerland. mail@juergen-barth.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Künzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013557:Switzerland; D016896:Treatment Outcome