Effectiveness of brief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy in the reduction of cancer-related distress and emotive problems: A comparative study.

Abstract

e24169 Background: In recent years, there was an increase of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) oriented brief-focused psychological intervention protocols for the reduction of cancer-related emotive difficulties that oncological patients have to face almost every day and that could have a negative impact on medical treatment (Di Matteo, Lepper & Croghan, 2006; NCCN, 2015). Thus, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a 10-session brief CBT (B-CBT-P) compared with a control group (CG). Methods: Participants ( n = 67; mean age = 63.11, SD = 12.1, 35 female) enrolled at the Oncology Day Hospital at the “Presidio Ospedaliero” of Saronno, ASST Valle Olona, Italy who undertook (B-CBT-P: n = 34) or non-undertook (CG: n = 33) a psychotherapy intervention – with one of two different psychologists (authors MM and MI) to avoid potential biases. Participants were tested with the Distress Thermometer and the Problem List (DT&PL) at the baseline (T1; overall McDonald’s omega = .90), at the end of the 10-sessions B-CBT-P (T2; overall McDonald’s omega = .89). Results: A multilevel-multivariate repeated measure regression analysis was performed – controlling for age, type and localization of tumor, and therapist. In line with psychotherapy protocol, results showed no statistical significant changes for ‘practical problems’ ( p = 0.0497 ns), ‘spiritual problems’ ( p = 0.321 ns), and ‘physical problems’ ( p = 0.206). Results revealed a statistical significance reduction of ‘relationships problems’ ( p = 0.015; pooled Cohen’s d = 0.341), ‘emotive problems’ ( p = 0.012; pooled Cohen’s d = 0.349), and the distress thermometer ( p = 0.008; pooled Cohen’s d = 0.373). Conclusions: Considering that emotive and relational problems, as well as distress, occurs frequently among oncological patients, this study is into an important area. Results suggest that B-CBT-P is statistically and clinically effective to improve the emotive and relational sphere of oncological patients. However, the small effect sizes found suggest that these short protocols may not be sufficient to bring important changes in the patient's life. This study opens up to the idea of improving these protocols so that the cancer patient can improve his quality of life – even with a few psychotherapy sessions.