A COMPARISON OF ADJUVANT PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY AND SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER

This study compared the effectiveness of two psychological treatments in a group of 57 patients with various types of cancer attending the R oyal Marsden Hospital. Patients referred for psychiatric assessment wh o met criteria for an abnormal adjustment reaction were randomly alloc ated to either 8 weeks of Adjuvant Psychological Therapy (APT), a prob lem-focused, cognitive behavioural treatment programme, or 8 weeks of a comparison treatment of supportive counselling. At 8 weeks from the baseline assessment, APT had produced a significantly greater change t han the counselling intervention on fighting spirit, helplessness, cop ing with cancer, anxiety, and self-defined problems. At 4 months from baseline, APT had produced a significantly greater change than counsel ling on fighting spirit, coping with cancer, anxiety and self defined problems. It is concluded that APT produces greater change in anxiety, adjustment to cancer and use of coping strategies than a non-directiv e, supportive intervention over an 8 week period of treatment. This-di fference persists at follow up 4 months after baseline assessment. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.