A pilot study of Interpersonal Psychotherapy by telephone with cancer patients and their partners

A single‐arm pilot study explored the feasibility of adapting in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) by telephone to reduce psychological distress and to enhance coping during cancer treatment. Therapy focuses on role transitions, interpersonal conflicts, and grief precipitated by cancer. Breast cance...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) England), 2000-01, Vol.9 (1), p.44-56
Main Authors: Donnelly, Jean M., Kornblith, Alice B., Fleishman, Stewart, Zuckerman, Enid, Raptis, George, Hudis, Clifford A., Hamilton, Nicola, Payne, David, Massie, Mary Jane, Norton, Larry, Holland, Jimmie C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Caregivers - psychology
Couples Therapy
Feasibility Studies
Female
Grief
Humans
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Middle Aged
Partners
Patients
Pilot Projects
Psychotherapy
Sick Role
Telephone
Telephone services
Treatment Outcome
USA
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Summary:A single‐arm pilot study explored the feasibility of adapting in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) by telephone to reduce psychological distress and to enhance coping during cancer treatment. Therapy focuses on role transitions, interpersonal conflicts, and grief precipitated by cancer. Breast cancer patients receiving high‐dose chemotherapy received weekly sessions with a psychologist throughout chemotherapy and for 1 month afterwards. Patients could invite one ‘partner’ to receive individual telephone IPT. Psychosocial functioning was assessed using standardized measures at study entry, after chemotherapy, and following telephone IPT. Accrual and participation supplied evidence of feasibility: 14 patients and 10 partners were recruited, 82.5% of those eligible. Patients had a mean of 16 sessions; partners had a mean of 11. Participants rated their satisfaction with the program between ‘good’ and ‘excellent’. A test of the efficacy of telephone IPT requires a larger, randomized trial. In order to standardize the intervention, a treatment manual was developed. This study indicated the importance of outreach to family members as well as to cancer patients, intensive patient education about oncology treatment and the medical care setting, and psychosocial services that continue after cancer treatment has been completed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:1057-9249
1099-1611
DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(200001/02)9:1<44::AID-PON431>3.0.CO;2-V