Abstract
Objective: Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors (MCGP-CS) is an effective intervention to improve personal meaning, psychological well-being, and depressive symptoms until 6 months after the intervention. In this study, the long-term effects of MCGP-CS (i.e., at 1- and 2-year follow-up) on meaning, psychological well-being and posttraumatic growth were assessed, in comparison to supportive group psychotherapy (SGP) and care as usual (CAU). Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 170) were randomized into MCGP-CS, SGP, or CAU. Assessments were scheduled at baseline, 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postintervention. Outcome measures were the Personal Meaning Profile, Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and their subscales. Linear mixed models (LMM) were used and results were both reported on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis, as well as for intervention completers only. Results: LMM and post hoc analyses with Bonferroni correction revealed that MCGP-CS participants reported more improvement on positive relations (subscale of SPWB) than CAU participants of 2-year postintervention (ITT analysis, Cohen's d =.82). Completers also reported more personal growth (subscale of SPWB) after MCGP-CS than after SGP 1-year postintervention (Cohen's d =.94). No long-term effects were found on the other outcome measures. Conclusions: In the 2 years after MCGP-CS, the short-term significant effects on personal meaning and most positive effects related to psychological well-being faded. However, MCGP-CS had a long-term positive effect on positive relations with others and on survivors' sense of personal growth. Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR3571.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 711-718 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Psycho-Oncology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 26 Dec 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2020 |
Funding
The study was funded by the Dutch Cancer Society/Alpe d'HuZes/KWF Kankerbestrijding Fund, grant‐number 4864, to I.M. Verdonck‐de Leeuw.
Funders | Funder number |
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Dutch Cancer Society/Alpe d'Huzes | |
National Cancer Institute | P30CA008748 |
KWF Kankerbestrijding |
Keywords
- cancer
- cancer survivors
- depression
- follow-up studies
- group psychotherapy
- intention-to-treat analysis
- oncology
- outcome assessment
- psychological adaptation
- psychological stress