Utilization and utility of psycho-oncologic support of patients with mamma-carcinoma

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie 2013, Vol.59 (4), p.369-377
• Main Authors: Denscherz, Claudia A, Hoffmann, Kathrin, Lutz, Ludwig, Klug, Günther, Huber, Dorothea
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Female; Germany; Humans; Middle Aged; Oncology Service, Hospital - utilization; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Psychotherapy; Referral and Consultation - utilization; Reproducibility of Results; Sick Role; Social Support; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Utilization Review - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1438-3608
• DOI: 10.13109/zptm.2013.59.4.369

This study explores patients' utilization of psycho-oncologic support and the effectiveness thereof. At the hospital in Munich-Harlaching, 51 patients were recruited following their first admission to the breast centre, 27 of whom utilized the psycho-oncologic service. They were compared to 24 decliners of the service. All patients completed self-rating questionnaires (Distress-Thermometer and Patient Health Questionnaire) at admission and at release. Group differences were calculated statistically by chi-square- and t-tests. We found no significant differences between users and decliners concerning socio-demographic and somatic data, but there were significant group differences in mental health. Users reported more mental distress and more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Psycho-oncologic interventions showed small to large effect sizes. Although this study corresponded more to external than to internal validity standards, it did yield provisional empirical evidence that psycho-oncologic interventions are effective in the treatment of the mental symptoms of breast cancer patients.