Effects of Supportive-Expressive Group Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Affective Disorders: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: So far, no study has tested supportive-expressive group therapy (SEGT) in cancer patients with an established psychiatric diagnosis. The aim of this 6-month follow-up study was to evaluate breast cancer patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of affective syndromes participating in SEGT and a group of breast cancer patients with no ICD-10 diagnosis. Methods: A total of 214 patients were examined in the screening phase (T0) using the ICD-10, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Mini-Mental Adjustment-to-Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Openness Scale and the Cancer Worries Inventory (CWI). Those with an ICD-10 diagnosis of affective syndromes received 16–24 sessions of SEGT (90-min sessions, once a week), while those with no ICD-10 diagnosis were followed up. A second assessment for both sam- ples took place 6 months later (T1). Results: Seventy-eight (36.4%) patients were positive for an ICD-10 diagnosis of affective syndromes at T0, while 127 (59.4%) did not meet any ICD-10 diagnosis. Among the former, 54 patients participated in the SEGT. At T1, significant differences were observed in all the dimensions of the BSI, hopelessness and anxious preoccupation subscales of the Mini-MAC, the Openness Scale and the CWI. No variable at T0 was a predictor of BSI distress as measured at T1. Among those with no ICD-10 diagnosis at T0, 8.2% were positive for affective disorders at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: This study suggested that SEGT is effective for breast cancer patients with affective disorders, and indicates the need for prospective evaluations in order to identify those who may develop psychopathology over time.

The Roles of Support Seeking and Race/Ethnicity in Posttraumatic Growth Among Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Although satisfaction and improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may be high among cancer survivors (Grassi, Sabato, Rossi, Marmai, & Biancosino, 2010; Leadbeater, 2004; Schou, Ekeberg, Karesen, & Sorensen, 2008; Till, 2003), the psychological processes that lead to this improvement remain unclear. One such process may be posttraumatic growth (PTG), which is a concept encompassing positive changes in self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and/or life philosophy following a traumatic life event (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996).…”

Randomized controlled trial of supportive-expressive group therapy and body-mind-spirit intervention for Chinese non-metastatic breast cancer patients

“…In general, studies on psychological interventions that preselected participants according to increased distress showed larger effects [39]. For instance, a pilot study by Grassi and colleagues [40] suggests SEG to be effective in reducing the psychological distress among distressed breast cancer patients with affective disorders. In light of the potential flooring effects, future studies might clarify its intervention effects on psychological distress in more distressed samples.…”

Eficacia de la terapia de grupo en cáncer de mama: evolución de las emociones desadaptativas

“…La mejoría observada, no es únicamente producto del paso del tiempo, sino del aprendizaje de estrategias para facilitar la adaptación y aceptación de la enfermedad y sus posibles secuelas (49)(50)(51)(52)(53) . Por último, podemos distinguir entre aspectos emocionales más variables (miedo, ansiedad, ilusión por las cosas) y más estables (tendencia a la ira, insatisfacción con el aspecto físico, efectos en la concentración).…”