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 The major objective of this project is to determine how the efficacy of different psychosocial
interventions for women with breast cancer differs as a function of the stage of disease that
the women are in.  Important to the project is the idea that women with different stages of
disease may have very different needs.  These needs might best be served by interventions
or programs that contain certain characteristics or components rather than others.  More
specifically, the project tested the idea that women with early stage breast cancer may be
more benefited by education interventions, whereas women with late stage breast cancer
may be more benefited by peer discussion interventions.  More generally, the project is
guided by a psychobiosocial model of disease based (a) on the Center's "common pathways"
model, (b) on the existing literature concerning adaptation to cancer and other chronic illnesses,
and (c) on the literature on stress and coping.  One hundred and ninety-eight women with early
stage breast cancer were randomly assigned to one of two active arms of an intervention program
or to a treatment-as-usual control group.  One active arm of the intervention consisted of group
education sessions (lasting 1 hour/week for 8 weeks), in which women were provided with
information about breast cancer and taught adaptive coping strategies and stress management
techniques.  The second arm of the intervention consisted of group peer support sessions
(also lasting 1 hour/week for 8 weeks), in which the women were encouraged to share their
experiences in an attempt to provide a sense of emotional support, promote altruism among
group members, and supply group members with an enhanced sense of purpose and meaning
in life.  Eighty-six women with late stage breast cancer were either assigned to the peer
. discussion arm or to the control arm.  Analyses (which are still ongoing) will focus on
evaluating the benefits of the interventions and identifying who benefits from which intervention,
and why the benefit occurs.

For further information about this project, contact Michael Scheier, Ph.D. 
  Revised: 4/8/2006 MS/la-tc

 

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