Conditioned Side Effects Induced by Cancer Chemotherapy: Prevention Through Behavioral Treatment

Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy often experience nausea and vomiting that develop as a result of classical conditioning. In order to determine whether this nausea and vomiting could be delayed or prevented, 24 cancer patients were randomized either to a group that received progressive muscle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 1987-02, Vol.55 (1), p.42-48
Main Authors: Burish, Thomas G, Carey, Michael P, Krozely, Mary G, Greco, F. Anthony
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects
Anxiety
Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Chemotherapy
Classical Conditioning
Conditioning, Classical - drug effects
Drug Therapy
Guided Imagery
Human
Humans
Medical disorders
Medical research
Medical sciences
Nausea
Nausea - chemically induced
Nausea - prevention & control
Neoplasms
Prevention
Progressive Relaxation Therapy
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Relaxation Therapy
Side Effects (Drug)
Social research
Treatments
Vomiting
Vomiting - chemically induced
Vomiting - prevention & control
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Summary:Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy often experience nausea and vomiting that develop as a result of classical conditioning. In order to determine whether this nausea and vomiting could be delayed or prevented, 24 cancer patients were randomized either to a group that received progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) plus guided imagery (GI), or to a no-treatment control group. Relaxation training sessions were held before the initiation of chemotherapy and during the first three chemotherapy treatments. Results indicated that patients receiving PMRT and GI had significantly less nausea and vomiting and significantly lower blood pressures, pulse rates, and dysphoria, especially anxiety, than did control patients. Nurse observations corroborated patient reports. These data suggest that early training in PMRT and GI can reduce and perhaps prevent the development of conditioned nausea and vomiting, and can alleviate high anxiety levels, in cancer patients who receive emetogenic chemotherapy.
ISSN:0022-006X
1939-2117
DOI:10.1037/0022-006X.55.1.42