A Randomized Controlled Trial of Psychosocial Interventions Using the Psychophysiological Framework for Chinese Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the psychophysiological outcomes of different psychosocial interventions for breast cancer patients. Participants were randomly assigned into 3 intervention groups, namely, Body-Mind-Spirit (BMS), Supportive-Expressive (SE), and Social Support Self-Help (SS) groups; a no-intervention group was used as control. Salivary cortisol was used as the physiological stress marker. Distress level, mental adjustment, emotional control, and social support were measured. Data were collected at baseline, 4 month, and 8 month. Preliminary results indicated that BMS intervention produced the greatest and the most sustained effects. It enhanced positive social support, reduced psychological distress, emotional control, and negative mental adjustment. Total salivary cortisol was lowered after 8 months. Most participants in SE groups indicated the treatment helpful, but changes in psychophysiological outcomes were not statistically significant. Participants in SS groups seemed less likely to benefit from the intervention. The no intervention control group indicated a reduction in social support. These outcomes suggest that active professional intervention is more likely to yield therapeutic effects. In particular, psychosocial intervention attending to the spiritual dimension contributes to positive outcomes.

The Effects of Psychotherapy on Psychological Well-Being and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns in Breast Cancer Survivors

“…The BMS therapy developed by Chan [17] focuses on the beauty of transformation through pain and provision of holistic empowerment strategies in order to enhance clients’ strengths and resilience while coping with stress. Studies have examined the efficacy for patients with major depression [18,19] and for breast cancer patients [20,21,22]. The BMS treatment manual for this study was developed based on Chan’s ‘Cancer Fighter’ training course [17] for breast cancer patients who have completed active treatment and consists of session-by-session outlines of intervention including goals, contents, techniques, and strategies for BMS holistic well-being, and homework assignments.…”

Coping-Related Variables Associated with Individual Differences in Adjustment to Cancer

“…Many studies have found that cancer patients with high levels of support experience less distress and more well-being, compared to those without much support (Crothers, Tomter, & Garske, 2005;Helgeson, Snyder, & Seltman, 2004;Schnoll et al, 2002). Strong social support also predicts lower cortisol levels, indicating lower levels of physiological distress (Chan et al, 2006).…”

Validation study of the Chinese version of the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale

“…While the last decade has seen a consistent growth of interest in psychosocial research on cancer in China, published work was conducted in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or overseas, and the mainland Chinese population was substantially underrepresented [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. To our knowledge, the IIRS has not been used in China; thus, the general validity of this scale with respect to the Chinese population is unknown.…”