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Stress management training for breast cancer surgery patients
Author(s) -
Garssen Bert,
Boomsma Martijn F.,
Jager Meezenbroek Eltica,
Porsild Terry,
Berkhof Johannes,
Berbee Monique,
Visser Adriaan,
Meijer Sybren,
Beelen Rob H. J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3034
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , depression (economics) , physical therapy , breast cancer , coping (psychology) , stress management , cancer , psychiatry , clinical psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective This study evaluated the psychological effects of a pre‐surgical stress management training (SMT) in cancer patients. Methods Stress management training comprised four sessions in total: on 5 days and 1 day pre‐surgery and on 2 days and 1 month post‐surgery. Patients also received audio CDs with relaxation and coping skills exercises. Patients were randomly assigned to the SMT ( N = 34) or a regular care condition ( N = 36). Depression, anxiety, quality of life, perception of control, fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and surgery‐related somatic symptoms were measured at Day 6 and Day 1 pre‐surgery, and Day 2, 5, 30 and 90 post‐surgery. Results Depression and fatigue decreased in the intervention group and increased in the control group, leading to significant group differences at Day 2 (fatigue) and Day 5 post‐surgery (fatigue and depression). It also appeared that surgery‐related symptoms had increased more in the control group 3 months post‐surgery than in the SMT group. No intervention effects were observed for anxiety, pain, and sleep problems. Conclusion The use of a short psychological intervention is effective in reducing depression and fatigue in the post‐surgical period, although the effects are of short duration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.