COMPARISON OF BRIEF GROUP THERAPIES FOR DEPRESSED CANCER-PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIATION TREATMENT

Although many studies have documented patterns of emotional distress i n persons undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, there have been f ew controlled evaluations of counseling or psychotherapy outcomes with these persons. In this research, the effects of cognitive-behavioral and socially supportive group therapy were evaluated. A total of 72 de pressed cancer patients were randomly assigned to one of three conditi ons-cognitive-behavioral treatment, social support, or a no-treatment control condition. Before and after intervention and at 6-month follow up, study participants were individually assessed by using measures of symptom distress. Relative to the comparison group, both the cognitiv e-behavioral and social support therapies resulted in less depression, hostility, and somatization. The social support intervention also res ulted in fewer psychiatric symptoms and reduced maladaptive interperso nal sensitivity and anxiety. It was concluded that both group therapie s can reduce symptoms of distress for depressed persons undergoing rad iation treatment for cancer. Both forms of therapy resulted in improve ments in psychosocial function (compared with no treatment at all), bu t social support groups demonstrated more changes that were evident at 6-month followup. Further research is needed to evaluate the differen tial effectiveness of mental health services provided to cancer patien ts undergoing radiation.