A randomized clinical trial of a supportive versus a skill-based couple-focused group intervention for breast cancer patients.

Abstract

Objective The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of the two types of couple-focused group interventions on couples’ psychological and relationship functioning, and to examine possible moderators for each intervention. Methods Three hundred and two women with early stage breast cancer who were recruited within one year of diagnosis and their spouses were randomly assigned to either an eight session enhanced couple-focused group intervention (ECG) or a couples’ support group (SG). Couples completed surveys at four time points: pre-intervention, one week post-group, six months, and one year. Results Analyses indicated that anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cancer-specific distress declined and positive well-being improved for couples enrolled in both ECG and SG. Thus, neither treatment was superior in terms of reduction of distress or improvements in positive well-being. Moderator effects indicated that, among patients reporting higher levels of cancer-specific pre-intervention distress, anxiety, depression, and well-being over the one year post-intervention time period were significantly lower among SG couples than ECG couples. When patient cancer-specific pre-intervention distress was low, these three outcomes were more positive in ECG relative to SG. A similar pattern with regard to anxiety was illustrated when the moderator effects for perceived partner unsupportive behavior was examined, and a similar pattern was seen for anxiety and well-being for pre-intervention marital satisfaction. Conclusions A couple-focused supportive group therapy may be more effective for distressed patients, whereas a structured, skills-based couples’ group therapy may be more effective for less distressed patients. Public Health Relevance This study highlights the importance of targeting different types of group therapy to cancer patients with different levels of distress.

Dyadic effects of coping strategies, time perspectives, and personality on the quality of life of cancer patients and their caregivers

“…These interventions seem more effective than individual interventions or usual care. Future studies should explore the efficacy on both patient and partner of specific approaches based on emphasizing the participants' expression of emotions, teaching on skill practices (coping, constructive communication), and/or learning speaker‐listener role‐taking …”

Group therapy processes and treatment outcomes in 2 couple‐focused group interventions for breast cancer patients

“…This study is a secondary analysis of data collected as part of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of an ECG intervention and a couples' SG intervention . Procedures are described in greater detail in Manne et al Participants in the Manne et al study were 302 women with early stage breast cancer and their significant others (2 female spouses). Patient participants were approached from the outpatient clinics of oncologists practicing in 3 comprehensive cancer centers in the Northeastern United States or in several smaller local community hospital oncology practices.…”

“…The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) diagram is contained in Manne et al Of the 2900 eligible women approached for participation, 302 couples consented and completed the baseline survey (10.4%). The most common reason for refusal provided was that the couple was not interested (18.4%) or participation would “take too much time” (15.7%).…”

“…The SG was a supportive intervention where the sharing of one's personal experiences with cancer, expression of one's emotions, understanding one's emotional reactions, and support between group members were fostered. The results from the primary data analyses of this randomized clinical trial indicated that both treatments were effective in reducing distress, but ECG was more effective in reducing distress among nondistressed patients and SG was more effective in reducing distress among distressed patients . This study is a secondary analysis of these data focusing on therapy process.…”

Brief‐Systemic Programs for Promoting Mental Health and Relationship Functioning in Military Couples and Families

“…This evaluation is a critical contribution that military family scholars and practitioners can provide. Additionally, with many programs focusing on groups of couples or families, incorporating multiple couple or family group assessment methods would also be beneficial given the nested nature of the data (see Keiley, Zaremba-Morgan, Datubo-Brown, Pyle, & Cox, 2015;Manne, Siegel, Heckman, & Kashy, 2016;Wittenborn, Keiley, & Sprenkle, 2012). Multiple-system group approaches involve holding treatment (and control) sessions over a period of time for small groups of couples or families who are experiencing similar transitions and difficulties.…”