Antoni, et. al., 2006

The intervention was a 10-week group cognitive behavior stress management intervention that included anxiety-reduction skills (muscle relaxation and guided imagery), cognitive restructuring, coping skills, and interpersonal skills within supportive group sessions. The group sessions were two hours long.

Randomized controlled trial; longitudinal study. 199 women with non-metastatic breast cancers, who had recent breast surgery and were starting adjuvant treatment. Sample of convenience; self- selected, middle-class, educated, and mostly Caucasian woman. Group size limited to 8 participants.The control group received condensed version of the intervention over 5-6 hours, without the group setting, no homework or role modeling. The women in the intervention groups attended 7.08 sessions on average.

The control group received condensed version of the intervention over 5-6 hours, without the group setting, no homework or role modeling. The women in the intervention groups attended 7.08 sessions on average.

This study screened for patients with stage IV or metastatic breast cancer, prior cancer, prior psychiatric treatment for serious mental health disorder, or could not speak English.

This study screened for patients with stage IV or metastatic breast cancer, prior cancer, prior psychiatric treatment for serious mental health disorder, or could not speak English.

Impact of Event Scale Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety Affects Balance Scale (ABS)

Measurements: Baseline upon recruitment; 3 months after 10 week intervention completed 6 months after 10-week intervention completed (roughly 1 year)Intervention group started with higher stress ratings initially, and showed significant reduction in cancer-specific thought intrusions relative to those in control condition. Intervention group showed smaller but significant effect on anxiety measures.

Intervention group started with higher stress ratings initially, and showed significant reduction in cancer-specific thought intrusions relative to those in control condition. Intervention group showed smaller but significant effect on anxiety measures.

Intervention group showed significant reduction compared with control group. ABS score: condition had significant relation to slope (z=2.48, p<0.02, Cohen’s d+0.33). Intervention group showed significant reduction compared with control group. Latent growth-curve modeling statistics.

Minor design flaw: control group received condensed version of intervention.

The intervention is a 10-week group entailing 20 hours of interventions led by specially trained therapists (postdoctoral fellows and advanced clinical psychology pre-doctoral trainees. Sample limitations: women with non-metastatic breast cancer.