Supportive-expressive group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: survival and psychosocial outcome from a randomized controlled trial. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Mixed reports exist about the impact of supportive-expressive group therapy (SEGT) on survival. METHODS: From 485 women with advanced breast cancer recruited between 1996-2002, 227 (47%) consented and were randomized within an average 10 months of cancer recurrence in a 2:1 ratio to intervention with 1 year or more of weekly SEGT plus three classes of relaxation therapy (147 women) or to control receiving three classes of relaxation therapy (80 women). The primary outcome was survival; psychosocial well-being was appraised secondarily. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: SEGT did not prolong survival (median survival 24.0 months in SEGT and 18.3 in controls; univariate hazard ratio for death 0.92 [95% CI, 0.69-1.26]; multivariate hazard ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.74-1.51]). Significant predictors of survival were treatment with chemotherapy and hormone therapy (p<0.001), visceral metastases (p<0.001) and advanced disease at first diagnosis (p<0.05). SEGT ameliorated and prevented new DSM-IV depressive disorders (p = 0.002), reduced hopeless-helplessness (p = 0.004), trauma symptoms (p = 0.04) and improved social functioning (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: SEGT did not prolong survival. It improved quality of life, including treatment of and protection against depression.

publication date

  • April 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Depressive Disorder, Major
  • Expressed Emotion
  • Psychotherapy, Group
  • Social Support

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34247569358

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/pon.1185

PubMed ID

  • 17385190

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 16

issue

  • 4