Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management for Healthy Women at Risk for Breast Cancer: a Novel Application of a Proven
Bonnie A McGregor1,2, Emily D Dolan3, Karly M Murphy4
1Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. mcgregor@fredhutch.org.
Background:
Women at risk for breast cancer report elevated psychological distress, which has been adversely associated with cancer-relevant behaviors and biology.
Purpose:
The present study sought to examine the effects of a 10-week cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) group intervention on distress among women with a family history of breast cancer.
Methods:
Participants were randomly assigned to CBSM (N = 82) or a wait-list comparison group (N = 76). Baseline to postintervention effects of CBSM on depressive symptoms and perceived stress were examined using hierarchical regression.
Results:
CBSM participants reported significantly lower posttreatment depressive symptoms (β = -0.17, p < 0.05) and perceived stress (β = -0.23, p < 0.05) than wait-list comparison participants. Additionally, greater relaxation practice predicted lower distress.
Conclusions:
Group-based CBSM intervention is feasible and can reduce psychological distress among women with a family history of breast cancer. The present findings represent an encouraging avenue for the future application of CBSM. ( Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00121160).
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