- Authors:
- Subtitle:
- a replication study
- DOI:
- 10.1200/JCO.2005.05.193
- Abstract:
- PURPOSE: In 1993, a randomized intervention study among patients with malignant melanoma showed a significant decrease in psychological distress and increased coping capacity 6 months after the intervention and enhanced survival 6 years later. We applied a similar intervention with a few modifications in a randomized controlled trial among Danish patients with malignant melanoma and evaluated results on immediate and long-term effects on psychological distress and coping capacity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 262 patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma were randomly assigned to the control or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were offered six weekly sessions of 2 hours of psychoeducation, consisting of health education, enhancement of problem-solving skills, stress management, and psychological support. The participants were assessed at baseline before random assignment and 6 and 12 months after surgery. The analyses of the main effects of the intervention were based on analyses of covariance. RESULTS: The patients in the intervention group showed significantly less fatigue, greater vigor, and lower total mood disturbance compared with the controls, and they used significantly more active-behavioral and active-cognitive coping than the patients in the control group. The improvements were only significant at first follow-up. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support the results of an earlier intervention study among patients with malignant melanoma and indicate that a psychoeducational group intervention for such patients can decrease psychological distress and enhance effective coping. However, this effect is short term and the clinical relevance is not obvious.
- Type:
- Journal article
- Language:
- English
- Published in:
- Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2005, Vol 23, Issue 6, p. 1270-7
- Keywords:
- Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders; Patient Education as Topic; Psychological Tests; Psychotherapy, Group; Skin Neoplasms; Social Support; Stress, Psychological; Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Main Research Area:
- Medical science
- Publication Status:
- Published
- Review type:
- Peer Review
- Submission year:
- 2005
- Scientific Level:
- Scientific
- ID:
- 108934837
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