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.
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TL;DR: The interaction between disease and leader type is statistically significant, indicating that disease in combination with whether the leader is a peer or professional effects the expression of emotions and cognitive mechanisms.
22 citations
TL;DR: In this commentary, Vicki S. Helgeson examines how the authors of these articles advance the field in important ways by using theory-based research, identifying mechanisms of change, identifying moderators of treatment effectiveness, and moving beyond self-report measures of distress.
Abstract: The April 2005 issue of Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology presents 5 articles that address the cancer experience In this commentary, Vicki S Helgeson examines how the authors of these articles advance the field in important ways, in particular by using theory-based research, identifying mechanisms of change, identifying moderators of treatment effectiveness, incorporating partners in studies, moving beyond self-report measures of distress, using longer term follow-ups, extending studies to more diverse samples, focusing on sexuality, and using longitudinal designs Helgeson concludes by identifying several challenges that researchers in this area face and by highlighting future avenues for research
22 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors suggest that the individuals who are diagnosed with HIV-1 seropositive may face major psychosocial changes including multiple, chronic, uncontrollable stressors and losses in familiar sources of social support.
Abstract: Homosexual men who are diagnosed as HIV-1 seropositive may face major psychosocial changes including multiple, chronic, uncontrollable stressors, and losses in familiar sources of social support. This combination of events may overwhelm previously learned coping strategies resulting in a loss of perceived self-efficacy, feelings of hopelessness and depression, and increases in maladaptive behaviors such as unprotected sexual activities and substance use. These sequelae may, in turn, compromise future mental and physical health status. This population may benefit substantially from behavioral interventions that increase self-efficacy, encourage emotional expression, and increase social support resources in a supportive group environment. It is plausible that such increases in self-efficacy, adaptive coping and social support may reduce the likelihood of distress and depression, sexual risk behaviors and substance use with potential benefits as well for immunologic status and clinical health. Recent work, t...
21 citations
TL;DR: The benefit of support groups and the content of the intervention are discussed including health education, self-efficiency, coping skills, and ways to increase feelings of social acceptance.
Abstract: This article discusses the importance of a support group for people living with inflammatory bowel disease. The support group provides these patients and their families with a social framework for promoting positive adjustment to the illness and seeks to improve the patients' quality of life. The use of a support group has been described in the literature as a method of helping patients and their families to face living with chronic illness, but relatively little has been written about support groups for people with inflammatory bowel disease and the role of the gastroenterology nurse. In this article, the benefit of support groups and the content of the intervention are discussed including health education, self-efficiency, coping skills, and ways to increase feelings of social acceptance.
21 citations
TL;DR: Early identification of those patients who are at high risk for developing depression during the course of breast cancer, and focuses on points in the disease course that render patients most vulnerable, are discussed.
Abstract: Untreated anxiety and depression lead to increased costs for family members regarding work, overall medical expenses, greater physical symptomology, and possibly even decreased life expectancy. This article discusses early identification of those patients who are at high risk for developing depression during the course of breast cancer, and focuses on points in the disease course that render patients most vulnerable. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression are critical for a patient's physical, as well as emotional, wellbeing. Diagnosis can be challenging because the illness of cancer can produce the same somatic symptoms found in depression. Treatment should address psychological and family issues, and in many cases include evaluation for antidepressant medication. Psychosocial intervention in patients with breast cancer has been shown to effectively treat both psychological distress and physical symptoms, including pain, nausea, and fatigue. Pharmacological treatment of major depression in patients with breast cancer has been shown to treat depression effectively and to improve quality of life.
21 citations
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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
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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
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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