Psychotherapy to Patients With Primary Breast Cancer - Psycho-social and Survival Outcome From a Randomised Trial

Psychosocial Group Intervention to Patients With Primary Breast Cancer - Psychosocial and Survival Outcome From a Randomised Study

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an intervention to breast cancer patients including psycho-education and group psychotherapy can enhance quality of life and survival.

PURPOSE: This randomized study included patients diagnosed with breast cancer who participated in an intervention including education and group psychotherapy lasting 10 weeks after surgery. The purpose of the study was to enhance Quality of Life, coping and social relations and to support the women when going through treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly assigned 210 patients with primary breast cancer to a control or an intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were offered 2 weekly 6-hour sessions of psycho-education and eight weekly 2-hour sessions of group psychotherapy. Participants and nonparticipants were followed up for QoL, coping and social relations after one, six and twelve months post intervention and on vital status 5 years after surgical treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible patients were 18-70 years of age with stage I-IIIA primary breast cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Distant metastasis
• Not speaking or understanding Danish
• Over 71 years
• Other life-threatening diseases
• Brain-damaged