A pilot study of a structured psychiatric intervention for Japanese women with breast cancer

Based on the work by Fawzy on a structured psychiatric intervention for malignant melanoma patients, the author developed a modified version for Japanese cancer patients. This program is a series of five one-hour sessions including psychoeducation, problem-solving, psychological support, relaxation training (progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training) and guided imagery. In this preliminary study, 10 breast cancer patients received individual interventions and another 10 were divided into two groups for group therapies. Comparing the results of POMS and Dealing With Illness Inventory scores between pre- and post-interventions, both the individual and the group interventions were definitely effective in improving psychological distress but less effective for changing coping styles for Japanese patients with breast cancer. The subjects receiving individual intervention were also interested in the group sessions because they wanted to share their knowledge on breast cancer. On the other hand, the patients assigned to the group intervention were hesitant to talk each other in the earlier sessions. These impressions imply that this structured intervention should be modified to include both individual and group sessions.