COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR THERAPY WITH ADVANCED BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS - A BRIEF REPORT OF A PILOT-STUDY

In preparation for a formal study on the effects of cognitive behaviou ral therapeutic intervention with advanced breast cancer patients with respect to improved emotional well-being and increased survival, a sm all (n = 6) pilot study was completed. Depression, anxiety, anger and self-esteem self-report measures were administered to determine the ou tcome of a 12-week group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy programme which u sed the rational-emotive therapy model (Ellis, 1991). The programme fo llowed psycho-educational techniques to teach coping strategies for de aling with the various emotional factors associated with advanced brea st cancer. In most cases, data at post-programme and at a three-month follow-up revealed improvements in depression and anger and, to a smal ler extent, with self-esteem. The findings indicate that such a progra mme is beneficial to advanced breast cancer patients with respect to i mproving some aspects of emotional well-being. It is too early to dete rmine whether such a programme will improve survival.