Neoplasms

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

All Conditions

Breast Neoplasms

Breast Diseases

Skin Diseases

The methods and techniques will be the same as those used in the group intervention. The first session will be used for a detailed assessment of the individual's psychosocial problems, as used in earlier studies. The sessions will last 45 - 60 minutes. The number of sessions will depend on the individual patient's problems and the joint assessment made by the patient and nurse together. The total number of sessions will be at least 4, with a maximum of 8. The contents of the sessions are Session 1: Assessment, Session 2: Analysis of diary (self-registration) and suggestions for problem management, Session 3: Evaluation of problem management skills Session 4: Follow-up and conclusion of the intervention. When necessary Sessions 5 -8 will address specific obstacles and continued practice.

Participants will meet for 2 hours every week for a total of 20 hours. In the intervals between the group meetings patients will be asked to do homework. Homework entails practicing problem-solving techniques, keeping a diary, practicing relaxation or physical activities. Each group meeting has a specific subject, i.e. What is stress and stress behaviors, Stress related symptoms, How to manage anger and negative thoughts, Self-registrations and behavioral changes, Future perspectives, Cancer, stress and relations, Expectations and demands, Body, pleasure and sexuality.

All patients start at the first step of the intervention program with a two hours psychoeducation in stress management. Patients, who don't report a decrease in stress related symptoms, after the first step will be offered an intensive stress management, either in individual or group format. Components included in the intervention concern 1) basic knowledge about cancer, treatment, healthy living and stress reactions, 2) self-awareness with help of diary for thoughts, feelings and behavior 3) instruction in various techniques on how to express negative feelings, how to communicate with others more effectively, how to change behaviors related to stress 4) training these techniques in real-life situations 5) cognitive restructuring 6) spirituality, derived from cognitive behavior therapy.

Stress management, in two steps

Karin Nordin, Prof

The purpose of this study within Caring sciences is to identify women with breast cancer who have stress symptoms and to offer these women appropriate care to reduce stress and increase well-being. This will be achieved by

1. Studying the prevalence of stress related symptoms in female patients with breast cancer
2. Testing the use of two short screening instruments to identify women at risk for developing long-standing stress symptoms
3. Studying the level and intensity of stress management interventions required to achieve increased well-being, using a stepped-care approach.
4. Studying the effects of interventions based on cognitive behavior therapy, delivered individually or in a group format.

The hypothesis is that half of the individuals assigned to a low intensity intervention will be significantly improved after treatment. For individuals who continue to have symptoms after low intensity treatment it is hypothesized that continued treatment in a group setting with high intensity interventions will be more cost-effective. In addition the assumption is that reduction of stress symptoms in women with breast cancer will lead to a reduction in socio-economic costs.

Stress Management in Breast Cancer Patients

How Can Health Care Help Female Breastcancer Patients Reduce Their Stress Symptoms? A Randomized Intervention Study With Stepped-care

Intrusion, Avoidance, Anxiety, Depression, Quality of life, Fatigue, Daily stress

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization	Link
Stress Management in Breast Cancer Patients	NCT01555645	Breast Cancer Stress	Stress manageme...	18 Years -	Uppsala University
Stress Management in Breast Cancer Patients	NCT01555645	Breast Cancer Stress	Stress manageme...	18 Years -	Uppsala University

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