A randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational support group for partners of early stage breast cancer patients

Partners of breast cancer patients are relied upon for support at a time wh en their own coping abilities are taxed by the challenge of cancer, yet few studies have investigated psychosocial interventions that include or targe t the patient's 'significant other'. Of the 118 consecutive patients approa ched, 36 patients and their partners participated in a randomized controlle d trial of a brief psychoeducational group program for partners only. Psych ometric instruments (including the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) and DUKE-UNC Functional Social Support Scale (FSSS)) were administered pre-test, post-test and at 3 months follow-up. T he Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC) was also completed by patients. Three months after the intervention, partners had less mood disturbance tha n did controls. Patients whose partners received the intervention reported less mood disturbance, greater confidant support (CS) and greater marital s atisfaction. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.