title: A comparison of two psychological interventions for newly-diagnosed gynecological cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the efficacy of two psychological interventions, a coping and communication-enhancing intervention (CCI) and supportive counseling (SC), in reducing depressive symptoms, cancer-specific distress, fear of recurrence, and emotional well-being of women diagnosed with gynecological cancer. Demographic, medical, and psychological moderators of intervention effects were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred fifty-two women with gynecological cancer were randomly assigned to eight sessions of CCI, eight sessions of SC, or usual care (UC). Participants completed measures of distress and wellbeing at six time points over an 18month period of time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCI had a beneficial impact on depressive symptoms and cancer specific distress over the first six months as compared with UC and SC and had a beneficial impact on emotional well-being. The greater coping skill development in CCI has made it a more effective intervention than traditional SC across a broader range of key psychological outcomes. Declines among women in the SC condition were not significantly different from UC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CCI intervention had significant effect on patients' depression, cancer-specific distress, and emotional well-being during a time when the majority of newly diagnosed patients experience elevated levels of distress. Ameliorating such distress post-diagnosis merits its incorporation into clinical care. A brief 8-session structured intervention can be readily applied to this distressed population in need. Brief supportive counseling did not evidence treatment effects, suggesting that more structured approaches are crucial to truly deliver benefits.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. Electronic address: Sharon.Manne@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Manne
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. Electronic address: myerssb@cinj.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Shannon Myers
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Virtue
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: ozgam@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozga
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, Department of Psychology, 316 Physics Rm 262, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: kashyd@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kashy
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. Electronic address: carolyn.heckman@fccc.edu.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Department of Psychiatry, Wellington Rd & Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC 380, Australia. Electronic address: david.kissane@monash.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kissane
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, 925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, 800 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriquez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Cognitive-behavior therapy; Psychological interventions; Supportive counseling