Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion

Abstract Purpose Psycho-oncological treatment is recommended in cancer rehabilitation as it improves fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The aim of our study was to compare a structured short-term psychotherapy and a non-specific group discussion provided dur...

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Main Authors: David Fauser, Elena Rimalis-Vogt, Johannes Mattes, Matthias Bethge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-11-01
Series:BMC Cancer
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11576-w
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author David Fauser
Elena Rimalis-Vogt
Johannes Mattes
Matthias Bethge
author_facet David Fauser
Elena Rimalis-Vogt
Johannes Mattes
Matthias Bethge
author_sort David Fauser
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose Psycho-oncological treatment is recommended in cancer rehabilitation as it improves fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The aim of our study was to compare a structured short-term psychotherapy and a non-specific group discussion provided during breast cancer rehabilitation. Methods Breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to structured group short-term psychotherapy or a non-specific group discussion during breast cancer rehabilitation. The patients completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of rehabilitation and three months after rehabilitation. The primary outcome was anxiety. Secondary outcomes were depression, distress, fatigue and health-related quality of life domains. Results In total, 160 patients (80 in both groups) were recruited and included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between both groups in the primary outcome anxiety at the end of rehabilitation (difference = -0.2; 95% CI -1.2 to 0.7) and three months after rehabilitation (difference = 0.2; 95% CI -0.9 to 1.3) and in any secondary outcome. Patients in the short-term psychotherapy group with high anxiety levels at baseline reported fewer depressive symptoms at the end of rehabilitation. Conclusions Our study showed no difference between structured short-term psychotherapy and a non-specific group discussion. Patients with high baseline anxiety levels were more likely to benefit from short-term structured psychotherapy. Early identification of this subgroup and symptoms of mental illness should occur after initial treatment in breast cancer patients in order to offer a structured treatment for anxiety and depressive symptoms during rehabilitation. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00017571; 08/07/2019).
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spelling doaj.art-1a01dd13a0c64f66bf68b7d6b1bd71fe2023-11-26T13:37:39ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072023-11-0123111210.1186/s12885-023-11576-wPsychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussionDavid Fauser0Elena Rimalis-Vogt1Johannes Mattes2Matthias Bethge3Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of LübeckVAMED Rehaklinik AhrenshoopVAMED Rehaklinik AhrenshoopInstitute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of LübeckAbstract Purpose Psycho-oncological treatment is recommended in cancer rehabilitation as it improves fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The aim of our study was to compare a structured short-term psychotherapy and a non-specific group discussion provided during breast cancer rehabilitation. Methods Breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to structured group short-term psychotherapy or a non-specific group discussion during breast cancer rehabilitation. The patients completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of rehabilitation and three months after rehabilitation. The primary outcome was anxiety. Secondary outcomes were depression, distress, fatigue and health-related quality of life domains. Results In total, 160 patients (80 in both groups) were recruited and included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between both groups in the primary outcome anxiety at the end of rehabilitation (difference = -0.2; 95% CI -1.2 to 0.7) and three months after rehabilitation (difference = 0.2; 95% CI -0.9 to 1.3) and in any secondary outcome. Patients in the short-term psychotherapy group with high anxiety levels at baseline reported fewer depressive symptoms at the end of rehabilitation. Conclusions Our study showed no difference between structured short-term psychotherapy and a non-specific group discussion. Patients with high baseline anxiety levels were more likely to benefit from short-term structured psychotherapy. Early identification of this subgroup and symptoms of mental illness should occur after initial treatment in breast cancer patients in order to offer a structured treatment for anxiety and depressive symptoms during rehabilitation. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00017571; 08/07/2019).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11576-wBreast cancerPsychological interventionsShort-term psychotherapyRehabilitationRandomized controlled trial
spellingShingle David Fauser
Elena Rimalis-Vogt
Johannes Mattes
Matthias Bethge
Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
BMC Cancer
Breast cancer
Psychological interventions
Short-term psychotherapy
Rehabilitation
Randomized controlled trial
title Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
title_full Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
title_fullStr Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
title_full_unstemmed Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
title_short Psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short-term psychotherapy versus non-specific group discussion
title_sort psychological interventions during breast cancer rehabilitation a randomized controlled trial comparing structured short term psychotherapy versus non specific group discussion
topic Breast cancer
Psychological interventions
Short-term psychotherapy
Rehabilitation
Randomized controlled trial
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11576-w
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