Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 1270-7 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0732-183X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2005 |
ID: 46007024