Cindy Tofthagen, Kristine A Donovan, Jay Mandrekar, Harleah G Buck
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: An estimated one-third of cancer survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. PTS is associated with high levels of cancer distress, anxiety, and depression. Few evidence-based treatments are available for PTS. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a form of trauma-focused psychological therapy that has been found to be both safe and effective at alleviating post-traumatic stress symptoms, psychological distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms in non-cancer populations.
Methods: The purpose of this single arm, pilot study was to examine the preliminary efficacy of ART for alleviating post-traumatic stress symptoms, cancer distress, depressive symptoms and anxiety among cancer survivors, as well as to evaluate baseline characteristics of persons most likely to respond to ART. Participants were provided with five ART sessions and outcome variables were assessed at enrollment, immediately following ART, and 30 days post ART. Paired t-tests were used to examine differences between scores at each time point. Associations between the PCL-5 score from baseline to post 30-day visit were assessed and other variables were examined using univariate linear regression.
Results: In a sample of 20 cancer survivors, statistically significant decreases in PTS symptoms (p < 0.0001), cancer distress (p < 0.0001), anxiety (p = 0.0002), and depression (p < 0.0001) from pre to post intervention were present. These improvements remained 30 days post-intervention. Higher baseline PCL-5 scores, as well as higher scores on two subscales of the cancer distress measure were associated with response to treatment.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that ART is an effective therapeutic intervention for reducing PTS symptoms and cancer distress among cancer survivors.
期刊介绍:
Psycho-Oncology is concerned with the psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. This subspeciality addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, and that of their families and caretakers; and the psychological, behavioral and social factors that may influence the disease process. Psycho-oncology is an area of multi-disciplinary interest and has boundaries with the major specialities in oncology: the clinical disciplines (surgery, medicine, pediatrics, radiotherapy), epidemiology, immunology, endocrinology, biology, pathology, bioethics, palliative care, rehabilitation medicine, clinical trials research and decision making, as well as psychiatry and psychology.
This international journal is published twelve times a year and will consider contributions to research of clinical and theoretical interest. Topics covered are wide-ranging and relate to the psychosocial aspects of cancer and AIDS-related tumors, including: epidemiology, quality of life, palliative and supportive care, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, social work, nursing and educational issues.
Special reviews are offered from time to time. There is a section reviewing recently published books. A society news section is available for the dissemination of information relating to meetings, conferences and other society-related topics. Summary proceedings of important national and international symposia falling within the aims of the journal are presented.