Brothers, B.M., Yang, H.C., Strunk, D.R., & Andersen, B.L. (2011). Cancer patients with major depressive disorder: Testing a biobehavioral/cognitive behavior intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 253–260.
To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined biobehavioral intervention (CBI) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for depressed patients coping with the stresses of cancer
12–20 individual 75-minute CBI and CBT sessions
Topics: Stress, coping, communication, seeking information
PHASE OF CARE: Late effects and survivorship
Single group pre-post design
Depressive symptoms, fatigue, and mental health significantly improved following intervention.
CBI and CBT showed significant improvement in depression, fatigue, and quality of life and reduced cancer stress.
Cancer survivors who display depressive symptoms may benefit from CBI and CBT.