Group support for patients with metastatic cancer. A randomized outcome study.
01 May 1981-Archives of General Psychiatry (American Medical Association)-Vol. 38, Iss: 5, pp 527-533
TL;DR: Objective evidence is provided that a supportive group intervention for patients with metastatic cancer results in psychological benefit and mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of this group intervention are explored.
Abstract: • The effects of weekly supportive group meetings for women with metastatic carcinoma of the breast were systematically evaluated in a one-year, randomized, prospective outcome study. The groups focused on the problems of terminal illness, including improving relationships with family, friends, and physicians and living as fully as possible in the face of death. We hypothesized that this intervention would lead to improved mood, coping strategies, and self-esteem among those in the treatment group. Eighty-six patients were tested at four-month intervals. The treatment group had significantly lower mooddisturbance scores on the Profile of Mood States scale, had fewer maladaptive coping responses, and were less phobic than the control group. This study provides objective evidence that a supportive group intervention for patients with metastatic cancer results in psychological benefit. Mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of this group intervention are explored.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: Diagnosis and treatment for delirium, depression, suicidal ideation, and severe anxiety in cancer pain patients can result in effective management of these psychiatric emergencies.
Abstract: Delirium, depression, suicidal ideation, and severe anxiety are among the most commonly occurring psychiatric complications encountered in cancer pain patients. When severe, these disorders require as urgent and aggressive attention as do other distressing physical symptoms, such as escalating pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can result in effective management of these psychiatric emergencies.
49 citations
TL;DR: Data from the pilot work supported the view that a multifaceted approach to the management of cancer-related fatigue is appropriate because it enables an intervention package to be tailored to an individual’s requirements.
Abstract: A pilot study was conducted to develop and test a nursing intervention to facilitate the management of fatigue in patients receiving chemotherapy The intervention, named the Beating Fatigue program, has 4 elements: assessment/monitoring, education, coaching in the management of fatigue, and provision of emotional support Beating Fatigue was implemented with and evaluated by 8 patients Overall, patients were very positive about the program and perceived the opportunity to talk to someone about fatigue as the most beneficial strategy within the program, although individual patients varied in which aspect they most preferred Data from the pilot work supported the view that a multifaceted approach to the management of cancer-related fatigue is appropriate because it enables an intervention package to be tailored to an individual's requirements The approach appeared both feasible and practical Although numeric data were limited, there was some evidence that the approach had the capacity to lessen fatigue and enhance emotional well-being
49 citations
TL;DR: The role of psy chological factors in the experience of can cer pain is examined and the rationale for incorporating hypnosis into a pain man agement program is discussed.
Abstract: associated with cancer. The degree of pain depends on a variety of factors, of which the site and extensiveness of the primary tumor and metastases are but two. The pain experience of cancer patients—and, there fore, to a great extent their quality of life is also influenced by such psychological factors as mood disturbance and beliefs about the disease and its relation to pain. This paper examines the role of psy chological factors in the experience of can cer pain and discusses the rationale for incorporating hypnosis into a pain man agement program.
49 citations
TL;DR: Five main kinds of psychological therapy are described, arranging them on a hierarchy of increasingly active participation by the recipient, and noting the status of evidence for their efficacy.
Abstract: The growing evidence for the efficacy of psychological therapy in improving quality of life in cancer patients suggests that we should now consider it an adjuvant treatment in cancer management, analogous to adjuvant chemotherapy. If this is accepted, it follows that the main indication for advocating such adjuvant psychological therapy to patients should be an expert assessment that the patient is likely to benefit; it should not (as is usual at present) be restricted to either those patients with overt psychopathology, or those few who specifically request it. We describe five main kinds of therapy, arranging them on a hierarchy of increasingly active participation by the recipient, and noting the status of evidence for their efficacy. These five types are: providing information, emotional support, behavioral training in coping skills, psychotherapy (of various kinds), and, more speculatively, spiritual/existential therapy.
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of psycho-oncology research studies with breast cancer patients including those employing cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental designs is presented, and methodological problems and future directions for this line of research are discussed.
Abstract: The course of breast cancer is highly variable, and only part of the variability in progression rate can be predicted by clinicopathological factors. It is suggested that some of the variation may be ascribed to behavioral factors, but their importance in determining progression of breast cancer is still controversial. Several groups have found an association between progression of breast cancer and psychosocial factors including stressful life events, the expression of negative emotions—anger and anxiety—the presence of hopelessness, social support, and participating in psychosocial counselling. However, other groups failed to confirm these results. Here we review psycho-oncology research studies with breast cancer patients including those employing cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental designs. Results of these studies, methodological problems and future directions for this line of research are discussed.
48 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of reward or reinforcement on preceding behavior depend in part on whether the person perceives the reward as contingent on his own behavior or independent of it, and individuals may also differ in generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement.
Abstract: The effects of reward or reinforcement on preceding behavior depend in part on whether the person perceives the reward as contingent on his own behavior or independent of it. Acquisition and performance differ in situations perceived as determined by skill versus chance. Persons may also differ in generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. This report summarizes several experiments which define group differences in behavior when Ss perceive reinforcement as contingent on their behavior versus chance or experimenter control. The report also describes the development of tests of individual differences in a generalized belief in internal-external control and provides reliability, discriminant validity and normative data for 1 test, along with a description of the results of several studies of construct validity.
21,451 citations
Book•
[...]
01 Jan 1969
TL;DR: In this article, the implications of terminal illness for patients and for those involved in their care were discussed, and patients invited to talk about their experience found great relief in expressing their fear and anger and were able to move towards a state of acceptance and peace.
Abstract: Although most areas of human experience are nowadays discussed freely and openly, the subject of death is still surrounded by conventional attitudes and reticence that offer only fragile comfort because they evade the real issues. The dying may thus be denied the opportunity of sharing their feelings and discussing their needs with family, friends, or hospital staff. Although receiving devoted medical care, a dying patient is often socially isolated and avoided, since professional staff and students can find contact painful and embarrasing.
Aware of the strains imposed on all sides by this situation, Dr Kubler-Ross established a seminar at the University of Chicago to consider the implications of terminal illness for patients and for those involved in their care. Patients invited to talk about their experience often found great relief in expressing their fear and anger and were able to move towards a state of acceptance and peace. The seminar, initially composed of students of medicine, sociology, psychology, and theology, but later joined by hospital staff and relatives of patients, enabled many members to come to terms with their own feelings and to respond constructi to what the patients had to teach them.
5,220 citations
3,765 citations
1,254 citations
TL;DR: A study of 800 outpatient visits to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles as discussed by the authors explored the effect of verbal interaction between doctor and patient on patient satisfaction and follow-through on follow-up.
Abstract: Study of 800 outpatient visits to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles to explore the effect of the verbal interaction between doctor and patient on patient satisfaction and follow-through on...
947 citations