BACKGROUND. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of classical massage treatment in reducing breast cancer-related symptoms and in improving mood disturbances. METHODS. Women diagnosed with primary breast cancer were randomized into an intervention group and a control group. For a period of 5 weeks, the intervention group received bi-weekly 30-min classical massages in the back and head-neck areas. The control group received no additional treatment to their routine healthcare. To evaluate treatment efficacy, the following validated questionnaires were administrated at baseline (T1), at the end of the intervention (T2), and at a followup at 11 weeks (T3): the Short Form-8 Health Survey, the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire breast module (EORTC QLQ-BR23), the Giessen Complaints Inventory (GBB), and the Berlin Mood Questionnaire (BSF). RESULTS. Eighty-six eligible women (mean age: 59 years) were enrolled in the study. A significantly higher reduction of physical discomfort was found in the intervention group compared with the control group at T2 (p=0.001) and at T3 (p=0.038). A decrease in fatigue was also observed. Women in the intervention group reported significantly lower mood disturbances at T2 (p<0.01) but not at T3. The effect of treatment on mood disturbances was significantly higher if a patient was treated continuously by the same masseur. CONCLUSION. Classical massage seems to be an effective adjuvant treatment for reducing physical discomfort and fatigue, and improving mood disturbances in women with early stage breast cancer.

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BackgroundDifferentiation between purging type (AN-P) and restricting type (AN-R) is common in anorexia nervosa (AN) and relevant for clinical practice. However, differences of personality pathology in eating disorders (ED) and their subtypes, which can be captured by the operationalized psychodynamic diagnosis (OPD) system, have not been systematically investigated to date.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore differences in personality structure between the subtypes of AN and bulimia nervosa (BN) using the OPD structure questionnaire (OPD-SQ). In addition, the ability of the instrument to support the classification of eating disorders was examined.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, exploratory study in a subset sample of a larger validation study. The OPD-SQ had been collected from n = 60 patients with AN or BN. Patients were assigned to the ED groups by clinical assessment. Statistical analyses included multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis.ResultsDifferences between ED groups were observed on 5 OPD-SQ main scales and 9 subscales, as well as on the global scale. AN-P patients demonstrated the lowest personality structure on most of the main scales and subscales, whereas AN-R patients showed a higher personality structure level as compared to both BN and AN-P patients. The OPD-SQ scales with the largest differences include self-perception, object perception, and attachment to internal objects. Discriminant analysis resulted in satisfactory assignment to ED groups by OPD-SQ subscales.ConclusionsPersonality structure was found to be less developed in patients with BN and AN-P as compared to patients with AN-R. Although the results have to be proven in larger prospective studies, these results suggest that the OPD-SQ may be used to support the clinical assessment and classification in patients with EDs.

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Einleitung: Der Bedarf von Patientinnen des Brustzentrums der Charité an psychosozialer Betreuung und die Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung mit psychodiagnostischen Verfahren im Rahmen interdisziplinärer Diagnostik und Therapie werden dargestellt. Methoden: Am Aufnahmetag werden allen Patientinnen die Angebote der psychosozialen Betreuung vorgestellt. Ein bis drei Tage nach der Operation werden Daten zu Depressivität, Lebensqualität, Stresserleben, körperlichem Befinden und Kohärenz-sinn erhoben. Die hier untersuchte Stichprobe umfasst 104 Patientinnen (54,6 ± 8,8 Jahre), bei denen während der drei Monate vor der Befragung erstmalig die Diagnose Brustkrebs gestellt wurde. 67 % der Patientinnen erhielten eine brusterhaltende Therapie, bei 33 % wurde eine Ablatio mammae vorgenommen. Bei 35 % der Patientinnen bestand ein Tumorstadium I, bei 42 % II, bei 19 % III und bei 4 % lag ein Tumorstadium IV vor. Ergebnisse: Postoperativ weisen die Mammakarzinompatientinnen eine signifikant geringere Lebensqualität (M = 43,52 vs. M = 58,20) und signifikant mehr Ängstliche Depressivität (M = 34,90 vs. M = 20,50) auf als gesunde Vergleichsstichproben, während die berichteten körperlichen Beschwerden denen gesunder Frauen entsprechen. Die Werte für den Kohärenzsinn der Patientinnen Abstract Purpose:The need for psychosocial support for breast cancer patients and the outcome of a survey using psychodiagnostic instruments in a setting of interdisciplinary diagnostic procedures and therapy are presented. Methods: With admission psychosocial care is offered to all patients. One to three days after surgery data on depression, quality of life, stress and physical complaints are collected. The sample in this study consists of 104 patients who received the diagnosis of breast cancer for the first time within three months prior to surgery. A breast-conserving surgery was performed in 67 % and a radical mastectomy was performed in 33 % of the patients. 35 % of the patients were classified as having Stage I, 42 % Stage II, 19 % Stage III and 4 % Stage IV disease. Results: The breast cancer patients show a lower quality of life (M = 43.52 versus M = 58.20) and more anxious depression (M = 34.90 versus M = 20.50) than the healthy controls while their physical complaints correspond to those of healthy women. Their experienced sense of coherence lies significantly below that of the average female population (M = 48.85 versus M = 69.82). A high demand for postoperative psychosocial care is indicated. After the first contact 62 % of the patients engaged in further psychosocial support. Patients longing for more inOriginalarbeit 51 Institutsangaben

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