Effect of Psychological Intervention on Quality of Life and Psychological Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of psychological interventions on quality of life (QOL) and psychological outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. Methods: Three components—the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), cancer-related distress, and QOL—were assessed at admission (T0/baseline), three-month follow-up (T1), and six-month follow-up (T2). Results: The general characteristics of participants were well balanced between the psychological intervention group and control group. Psychological intervention significantly improved the anxiety measured by HADS in the psychological intervention group at T1 and T2 compared with the control group (T1 = −2.83 versus 0.33, p = .002; T2 = −2.64 versus 0.13, p = .045). Both total and avoidance scores of cancer-related distress decreased significantly in the psychological intervention group at T1, and the amelioration maintained until T2. However, the psychological intervention group and the control group did not show any significant differences between global QOL and cognitive function. While the psychological intervention greatly improved physical function at T1 (4.30 versus −4.28, p = .012), the difference was not significant at T2 (3.36 versus −3.41, p = .116). However, the fatigue score in the psychological intervention group was reduced significantly compared with that in control group at T2 (−4.94 versus 3.61, p = .027). Conclusion: Our results suggest that psychological intervention benefits QOL and psychological outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer.