Positive Health Online

Abstract

GRÉGOIRE and COLLEAGUES, 1. Health Psychology Department, University of Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium; 2. Public Health Department, University of Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium; 3. Medical Oncology Department, CHU Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium; 4. Radiation Oncology Department, CHU Liege, University of Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium; 5. Psychology Department, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; 6. Algology-Palliative Care Department, CHU Liege, University of Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium studied the effectiveness of three group interventions - cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), yoga, and self-hypnosis - on the well-being of breast cancer patients, in comparison to a control group at a 9-month follow-up.

Background

Long-term effects of psychosocial interventions to reduce emotional distress, sleep difficulties, and fatigue of breast cancer patients are rarely examined. We aim to assess the effectiveness of three group interventions, based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), yoga, and self-hypnosis, in comparison to a control group at a 9-month follow-up.

Methodology

A total of 123 patients chose to participate in one of the interventions. A control group was set up for those who agreed not to participate. Emotional distress, fatigue, and sleep quality were assessed before (T0) and after interventions (T1), and at 3-month (T2) and 9-month follow-ups (T3).

Results

Nine months after interventions, there was a decrease of anxiety (P=0.000), depression (P=0.000), and fatigue (P=0.002) in the hypnosis group, and a decrease of anxiety (P=0.024) in the yoga group. There were no significant improvements for all the investigated variables in the CBT and control groups.

Conclusion

Our results showed that mind-body interventions seem to be an interesting psychological approach to improve the well-being of breast cancer patients. Further research is needed to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of action of such interventions and their long-term effects on quality of life.

References

Grégoire C1, Bragard I2, Jerusalem G3, Etienne AM1, Coucke P4, Dupuis G5, Lanctôt D5, Faymonville ME6. Group interventions to reduce emotional distress and fatigue in breast cancer patients: a 9-month follow-up pragmatic trial. Br J Cancer. 117(10):1442-1449. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.326. Epub 2017 Sep 19. Nov 7 2017.

Comment

The above research demonstrated decrease in anxiety, depression and fatigue in the hypnosis intervention and decreased anxiety with yoga in breast cancer patients.