A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of Use of Guided Imagery for Treatment of Pain and Symptom Management in Women With Post-mastectomy Pain Syndrome

A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of Use of Guided Imagery for Treatment of Pain and Symptom Management in Women With Post-mastectomy Pain Syndrome

To learn if using guided imagery and deep breathing techniques can help with pain management in patients who have post-mastectomy pain syndrome.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary objective:

-To evaluate the effectiveness of use of Guided imagery and deep breathing techniques in pain management compared to control arm in patients with post-mastectomy pain syndrome who don't receive intervention and only receive standard care.

Secondary objective:

To evaluate effectiveness of Guided imagery and deep breathing techniques in symptom cluster management including fatigue, sleep, depression, and anxiety and in general quality of life compared to control arm who don't receive intervention and only receive standard care.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Breast Cancer patients who were performed mastectomy in previous 12 months
2. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome >4 weeks.
3. Patients who report 2-10 on the baseline pain severity score or 2-10 on the baseline pain interference score
4. Patients ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 70 years old
5. Must understand and read English, sign a written informed consent, and follow protocol requirements
6. If on medication for anxiety or depression, stable dose of medications for management of anxiety or depression symptoms for at least six weeks prior to enrollment with no plans to change medications in the subsequent four weeks. Increases or decreases allowed within drug class, but changing drug class will make patient in-evaluable

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pending surgery during treatment
2. Suicidal ideation
3. Diagnosis of a formal thought disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)