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Depression and anxiety symptoms in women at high risk for breast cancer: pilot study of a group intervention
D K Wellisch1, A Hoffman, S Goldman
1Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine 90024, USA.
Objective:
The psycho-oncology literature to date contains only one outcome study based on a group model for high-risk relatives of breast cancer patients. The authors set out to study the effects of group intervention in high-risk relatives of breast cancer patients.
Method:
Thirty-three high-risk relatives of breast cancer patients participated in a six-session, 12-hour group intervention model that consisted of educational and psychosocial components.
Results:
There was a significant reduction of depression symptoms as reported on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Similarly, there was a significant reduction of anxiety symptoms as reported on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state scale.
Conclusions:
In this pilot study, the investigators found the group intervention model effective at reducing symptoms of depression and reactive (not chronic) anxiety.
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