Trial Information

An Evaluation of a Group CBT Programme for Women With Primary Breast Cancer.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is associated with high levels of psychological
distress, which can be long-term in duration. The end of adjuvant therapy can be a time
which patients find anxiety provoking; as concerns of recurrence and how to return to life
after treatment often arise at this juncture.

Cognitive behaviour therapy has demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression in
people with cancer on a 1:1 basis. The CBT model has been shown to be significantly more
beneficial than supportive counselling. Therapy delivered in groups is considered desirable
because of its cost effectiveness, and its potential to confer additional benefits in terms
of peer support, reduced isolation and modelling of adaptive strategies by other group
members.

No studies have looked at the changes in participants health beliefs and beliefs about their
ability to copy (self-efficacy) with stress and tolerance of uncertainty following group CBT
and the relationship with psychological distress.

The aim of this study is to evaluate a GCBT programme intervention against a waiting list
control and to examine its effects on health beliefs, self-efficacy, coping, tolerance of
uncertainty and psychological distress in women with early diagnosed breast cancer.