Stagl, J. M., Antoni, M. H., Lechner, S. C., Bouchard, L. C., Blomberg, B. B., Glück, S., Derhagopian, R. P., & Carver, C. S. (2015). Randomized controlled trial of cognitive F Vargas behavioral stress management in breast cancer: A brief report of effects on 5-year depressive symptoms. Health Psychology, 34, 176-180.
Objective: Survivors of breast cancer experience stress and are at risk for depressive symptoms following primary treatment. Group-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) delivered post-surgery for non-metastatic breast cancer (BCa) were previously associated with fewer depressive symptoms over a 12-month follow-up; few studies have examined the longer-term benefits of such psychosocial interventions. This 5-year follow-up study of a previously conducted trial (#NCT01422551) tested whether group-based CBSM following surgery for non-metastatic BCa was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Methods: Women (N = 240) with stage 0-IIIb BCa were recruited 2-10 weeks post-surgery and randomized to a 10-week CBSM intervention group or a 1-day psycho-educational control group. Women were re-contacted 5 years post-study enrollment and re-consented to participate in the follow-up study (N = 130). Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses were employed to test for group differences on the CES-D at 5-year follow-up accounting for relevant covariates. Results: Participants assigned to CBSM reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms (M = 9.99, SE = 0.93) at the follow-up compared to those in the control group (M = 12.97, SE = 0.99), p = 0.030. With covariates, the group difference remained significant, p = 0.012. Conclusion: Women who received CBSM post-surgery for BCa reported fewer depressive symptoms than those in the control group in this 5-year follow-up. Psychosocial interventions early in treatment may influence long-term psychological well-being in BCa survivors.
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