The Effectiveness of Group Intervention on Enhancing Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Breast Cancer Patients: A 2-Year Follow-up.

Purpose To evaluate the long-term effect of group intervention on enhancing cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategies in female patients with early-stage breast cancer. Methods The sample included 174 patients who were diagnosed with early-to-mid stage breast cancer, completed adjuvant therapy, and agreed to fill out demographic and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaires (CERQ). About half of the patients (86, 49.4%) chose to participate in an 8-session group intervention (intervention group) while the others (88, 50.6%) did not (comparison group). The structured intervention for enhancing coping strategies with special emphasis on emotion regulation was conducted at the oncology unit at Rabin Medical Center by 2 experienced therapists. Preliminary effects on CER evaluated 6, 12, and 24 months postintervention were compared to the CER of a group of patients that opted not to participate in the group intervention. Results In the intervention group, the long-term effect (from baseline to 24 months) was assessed using the mix models module. Significant interaction effects were found for both the Negative CER scales (F(3, 268 ,404) = 3.66, P = .01) and for the Positive CER scales (F(3, 271 ,660) = 5.12, P = .002). No statistically significant differences in socio-demographic characteristics and medical variables were observed between the intervention and comparison groups. Conclusion Our findings indicate that a group intervention aimed at empowerment of coping strategies had positive long-term outcomes that reinforce adaptive coping strategies and improve less effective strategies of cognitive emotion regulation.

Factors affecting participation in group intervention in patients after adjuvant treatment for early-study breast cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: According to studies of patients with cancer, support groups can help in three areas: 1) improve mood; 2) introduce new, adaptive ways of handling potentially difficult situations; and 3) impart strategies for managing stress. Nevertheless, the decrease in the quality of life of cancer patients or survivors does not always translate into their utilization of available psychosocial services. The aim of the current study was to explore the factors affecting the decision of patients with breast cancer to participate in group intervention based on an enhancing-resilience approach. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine patients who were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at a tertiary hospital and had completed adjuvant therapy at least three months previously were asked to enroll in the study with or without group intervention. One hundred and one (53.4%) completed the battery of psychological questionnaires, of whom 56 agreed to participate in the intervention. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected for all 189 subjects from the medical files. RESULTS: No significant differences in sociodemographic or medical data were found between intervention-group participants (N = 56) and non-participants (N = 133). Group participants reported significantly higher levels of psychological pathology. Subjects who completed the questionnaires but did not participate in the intervention reported significantly higher levels of positive cognitive emotion regulation and flexibility than participants. CONCLUSION: Low participation in group interventions may be more strongly associated with psychological characteristics than sociodemographic and medical factors. It seems that patients know to perceive whether their personal resources are inadequate for facing a life-threatening illness. Like individual therapy, group interventions should be more sensitive to perceived individual needs and to the art of tailoring suitable contents according individual needs.