ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Many women with breast cancer suffer from depression and psychological distress. The present study by the purpose of examining the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT] on depression and psychological flexibility in women with breast cancer was performed. The method of this research was semi-experimental, and statistic society of this research was women with breast cancer in Isfahan. In this research available sampling method was used and among patients admitted to Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital and who had registered to participate in the research, 20 people were selected randomly and they were randomly divided to two groups of control and experiment. Research tool consisted of beck depression inventory [BDI-II], acceptance and action questionnaire [AAQ-II], and demographic questionnaire. Experimental group received 8 sessions of 2 hour acceptance and commitment group therapy. Follow-up stage was performed at one month after the last treatment session. Results showed that ACT significantly decreased scores on the BDI-II and increased score on AAQ-II compared to the control group [P < 0.001]. ACT may be considered to be an effective intervention approach for treatment of depression in women with breast cancer. It can be said that increasing in acceptance of thought and feeling associated with cancer and increasing in psychological flexibility that is the main goal of ACT has led to these changes
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer [BC] is a common malignancy among women. BC is a stressor in life that affects coping strategies and quality of life. This study performed to improve the quality of life in women with maladaptive coping style
Methods: A randomized clinical trial, held in 2011. Patients with maladaptive coping strategy were included in the study. 62 patients were randomized into two groups. Before and after 8 weeks of coping therapy, the quality of life was measured. General linear model was used for analysis
Results: The mean age in the intervention and control group was 45.10 +/- 7.34, 46.52 +/- 6.20 respectively [P-value>0.5]. Functional health significantly improved after the intervention [p-value<0.005], but in the control it decreased [p-value=0.029]. Symptom health between the two groups demonstrated no difference before and after intervention. General health improved in the intervention group [p-value=0.017]. However, in the control group it was not significant [p-value=0.128]. Problem-focused coping strategies in the intervention group improved markedly [p-value= 0.003] whereas, the control group did not reveal significant differences [p-value=0.196]
Conclusion: The results showed that the coping skill training program can improve the overall quality of life of breast cancer in women, and indicated that the care of breast cancer should address psychological issues and the finding points to the importance of taking individual coping strategies into account when evaluating the impact of breast cancer on psychosocial well-being
ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers amongst women in developed and developing countries. It is associated with the highest mortality rate in low to average-income countries. Breast cancer investigation amongst Iranian women reveals that the number of its incidence is yet the highest in all cancer types. Despite recent longer survival time of women with breast cancer, most of the patients suffer from long term physical and mental distress due to combined treatments. Exercise interventions are among new approaches to promote the better quality of life of the patients, which has only recently been considered by researchers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise intervention on the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. This is a clinical trial conducted on 80 women with I-III breast cancer, at 18-55 years of age mostly two years after the completion of their treatment in Seyed al Shohada hospital in Isfahan. They were randomly divided into two groups of study and control. Exercise intervention went on for 8 weeks in the study group [three sessions a week, 60 minutes]. Quality of life in both groups was measured a day before, and at the end of the eight weeks period by the instrument of the National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests of X2, t-test and Mac Hammer test. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the mean score of the physical dimension of quality of life in the study group before and after intervention while the score of physical health was significantly better in the control group [p < 0.00].The mean score of mental dimension had increased in the study group, while it had decreased in the control group. The mean score of social health showed no significant difference before and after intervention. The mean score of spiritual health had significantly decreased in the control group, while it had significantly increased in the study group [p = 0.004]. Generally, the total mean score of the quality of life showed no significant difference before and after intervention. However, the percentage of the quality of life score increased in the study group, but decreased in the control group. The results of this study showed that exercise interventions can promote a better quality of life for the patients, and increase the total score of quality of life. Although, the total score of quality of life was not significantly different, it was concluded that exercise can promote the quality of life amongst patients with breast cancer.