Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effects of psycho-oncologic interventions on emotional distress and quality of life in adult patients with cancer Methods Literature databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that compared a psycho-oncologic intervention delivered face-to face with a control condition The main outcome measures were emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life Outcomes were evaluated for three time periods: post-treatment, ≤ 6 months, and more than 6 months We applied standard meta-analytic techniques to analyze both published and unpublished data from the retrieved studies Sensitivity analyses and meta-regression were used to explore reasons for heterogeneity Results We retrieved 198 studies (covering 22,238 patients) that report 218 treatment-control comparisons Significant small-to-medium effects were observed for individual and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation These effects were sustained, in part, in the medium term (≤ 6 mon

Effects of Psycho-Oncologic Interventions on Emotional Distress and Quality of Life in Adult Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Existential and spiritual issues are at the frontier of new clinical and research focus in palliative and supportive care of cancer patients. As concepts of adequate supportive care expand beyond a focus on pain and physical symptom control, existential and spiritual issues such as meaning, hope and spirituality in general have received increased attention from supportive care clinicians and clinical researchers. This paper reviews the topics of spirituality and end-of-life care, defines spirituality, and suggests measures of spirituality that deal with two of its main components: faith/religious beliefs and meaning/spiritual well-being. These two constructs of spirituality are reviewed in terms of their role in supportive care. Finally, a review of existing psychotherapeutic interventions for spiritual suffering are reviewed and a novel meaning-centered group psychotherapy for advanced cancer patients is described.

Spirituality and meaning in supportive care: spirituality- and meaning-centered group psychotherapy interventions in advanced cancer.

The development and implementation of the Australian clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer

Meaning-making intervention during breast or colorectal cancer treatment improves self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy.

Objective: To assess psychosocial morbidity in women with breast cancer and to compare the differential rates between women with early stage and advanced disease.Method: In this report, 303 women with early stage breast cancer, psychiatrically assessed at baseline (as part of a study of cognitive-existential group therapy during adjuvant chemotherapy), are compared with 200 women with advanced breast cancer (similarly assessed in a trial of supportive-expressive group therapy). A structured psychiatric interview plus self-report measures were used to assess psychiatric morbidity, quality of life and cognitive attitude to cancer.Results: The early stage patients, whose mean age was 46 years, were on average 3 months post-surgery and had an overall prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric diagnosis of 45%. The metastatic patients, whose mean age was 51 years, were on average 63 months post-primary diagnosis and had an overall prevalence of DSM-IV diagnosis of 42%; the difference between the two rates was not statis...

Psychiatric disorder in women with early stage and advanced breast cancer: a comparative analysis.

We describe a model of cognitive-existential group therapy designed to be integrated over 6 months with regimens of adjuvant chemotherapy given as conventional medical treatment to breast cancer patients with stage 1 and 2 disease Our broad therapy goals are for members to develop a supportive network, work through grief over losses, improve problem solving and develop cognitive strategies to maximise coping, enhance a sense of mastery over life and re-evaluate priorities for the future Specific group themes include death anxiety, fear of recurrence, living with uncertainty, understanding treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone regimens, the collaborative doctor-patient relationship, body and self image, sexuality, relationships with partner, friends and family, surgical reconstruction, life style effects and future goals Active coping skills are developed through teaching formal problem solving and cognitive restructuring of automatic negative thoughts Technical aspects of the therapy are discussed

Ann Seddon

Papers

Cognitive‐Existential Group Therapy for Patients with Primary Breast Cancer — Techniques and Themes