Stress management intervention reduces serum cortisol and increases relaxation during treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention, which was composed of relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and coping skills training on late afternoon serum cortisol and relaxation indicators in women who were undergoing treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer. METHODS: Participants (N = 128) were randomly assigned to receive a 10-week CBSM group intervention or a 1-day psychoeducation seminar. Serum cortisol was collected and ability to relax was assessed at study entry and again at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Data were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of study condition on change across time for both cortisol and perceived ability to relax. Women receiving CBSM had significantly greater reductions in cortisol levels across the 12 months compared with those in the control group, who had no appreciable decline. Women receiving CBSM reported greater increases in ability to relax than controls across time. Perceived ability to relax did not mediate CBSM-related reductions in cortisol. CONCLUSIONS: Women who participate in a 10-week CBSM intervention during treatment for breast cancer show decreases in physiological stress in parallel with increases in perceived relaxation skills. This is the first study demonstrating well-maintained reductions in cortisol after a CBSM intervention in cancer patients during and just after treatment.

Author information

Author/s: Phillips, Kristin M (KM); Antoni, Michael H (MH); Lechner, Suzanne C (SC); Blomberg, Bonnie B (BB); Llabre, Maria M (MM); Avisar, Eli (E); Glück, Stefan (S); DerHagopian, Robert (R); Carver, Charles S (CS);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA.

Grants: R01CA064710 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychosomatic medicine (Psychosom Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Nov; vol 70 (issue 9) : pp 1044-9

Dates: Created 2008/11/13; Completed 2009/02/13;

PMID: 18842742, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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