To explore the application and effect of rational-emotive therapy combined with mindfulness breathing in psychological intervention of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.

The subjects of study were 96 patients with breast cancer who were diagnosed as TNBC in the Breast Department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital from July 2022 to December 2022. Enrolled patients were divided into an observation group (n = 48) and an intervention group (n = 48). Patients in the intervention group received routine psychological care for breast cancer, and those in the observation group were provided with rational-emotive therapy combined with mindfulness breathing on the basis of the former group. Further comparison was conducted on the psychological status and quality of life between the two groups of patients.

After intervention, the number of SCL-90 positive items decreased by 3.1±1.6 in the observation group and 1.9±1.0 only in the intervention group, with statistically significant difference between groups (t = 7.1, P > 0.01). The total average score of the observation group was improved by 2.0±0.8 points, while that was 0.9±0.6 point only the intervention group (t = 12.1, P > 0.01). The PANAS positive emotional factor scored 34.71±5.39 points and 30.7±6.19 points in the observation group and the intervention group, respectively (t = 3.21, P > 0.01). Besides, the total score of FACT-B in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the intervention group (31.3±6.7 points vs. 25.5±6.8 points; t = 4.649, P > 0.001).

Rational-emotive therapy combined with mindfulness breathing can effectively improve the psychological status of TNBC patients and improve their quality of life.