A group cognitive behaviour therapy programme with metastatic breast cancer patients

One-hundred and twenty-four patients with metastatic breast cancer were ran domised to either a group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) intervention, o r to a no-therapy control group condition. Both groups received standard on cological care; however, therapy recipients also attended eight weekly sess ions of group CBT, followed by a family night, and three further monthly se ssions. Patients completed the 'Profile of Mood States' (POMS) and the (Coo persmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSI) before and after therapy, and at 3 and 6 month follow-up periods. Outcome data in the period following therapy sh owed reduced depression and total mood disturbance, as well as improved sel f-esteem amongst therapy participants, relative to a no-therapy control gro up. These improvements were no longer evident at the 3 or 6 month follow-up assessments. We also report on the difficulties associated with conducting a group intervention with this patient cohort. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wil ey & Sons, Ltd.