Antoni, M. H., Wimberly, S. R., Lechner, S. C., Kazi, A., Sifre, T., Urcuyo, K. R., Phillips, K., Smith, R. G., Petronis, V. M., Guellati, S., Wells, K. A., Blomberg, B., & Carver, C. S. (2006). Stress management intervention reduces cancer-specific thought intrusions and anxiety symptoms among women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 1791-1797.
Objective. After surgery for breast cancer many women experience anxiety relating to the cancer, which can adversely affect quality of life and emotional functioning during the year post-surgery. Symptoms such as intrusive thoughts may be ameliorated during this period with structured group-based cognitive-behavioral intervention.
Method. A 10-week group cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention including anxiety reduction (relaxation training), cognitive restructuring, and coping skills training was tested among 199 women newly treated for stage 0-III breast cancer. They were followed for one year after recruitment.
Results. The intervention reduced reports of thought intrusion, interviewer ratings of anxiety, and emotional distress across one year significantly more than occurred in the control condition. These beneficial effects are maintained well past the completion of adjuvant therapy.
Conclusion. Structured, group-based CBSM may ameliorate cancer-related anxiety during active medical treatment for breast cancer and for one year following treatment. Group-based CBSM intervention is a clinically useful adjunct to offer to women treated for breast cancer.
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