title: Randomized controlled trial of supportive-expressive group therapy and body-mind-spirit intervention for Chinese non-metastatic breast cancer patients.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of supportive-expressive group (SEG) therapy and body-mind-spirit (BMS) intervention on emotional suppression and psychological distress in Chinese breast cancer patients.
  
  
  
  This three-arm randomized controlled trial assigned 157 non-metastatic breast cancer patients to BMS, SEG, or social support control group. SEG focused on emotional expression and group support, whereas BMS emphasized relaxation and self-care. All groups received 2-h weekly sessions for 8 weeks. The participants completed measurements on emotional suppression, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression at baseline and three follow-up assessments in 1 year.
  
  
  
  Using latent growth modeling, overall group difference was found for emotional suppression (χ2(2) = 8.88, p = 0.012), marginally for perceived stress (χ2(2) = 5.70, p = 0.058), but not for anxiety and depression (χ2(2) = 0.19-0.94, p > 0.05). Post-hoc analyses revealed a significant and moderate reduction (Cohen d = 0.55, p = 0.007) in emotional suppression in SEG compared to control group, whereas BMS resulted in a marginally significant and moderate fall (d = 0.46, p = 0.024) in perceived stress. Neither SEG nor BMS significantly improved anxiety and depression (d < 0.20, p > 0.05).
  
  
  
  The present results did not demonstrate overall effectiveness for either BMS or SEG therapy in the present sample of Chinese non-metastatic breast cancer patients. The participants appear to derive only modest benefits in terms of their psychological well-being from either intervention.
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, 2/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. tinho@hku.hk.|Department of Social Work & Social Administration, 5/F, The Jockey Club Tower, The Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. tinho@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Rainbow T H
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, 2/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ted C T
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, 2/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Phyllis H Y
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Samuel M Y
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Peter W H
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work & Social Administration, 5/F, The Jockey Club Tower, The Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Pamela P Y
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, California, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work & Social Administration, 5/F, The Jockey Club Tower, The Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. cecichan@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Cecilia L W
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body-mind-spirit; Breast cancer; Chinese; Emotional suppression; Psychological distress; Supportive-expressive therapy