Pitceathly, C., Maguire, P., Fletcher, I., Parle, M., Tomenson, B., & Creed, F. (2009). Can a brief psychological intervention prevent anxiety or depressive disorders in cancer patients? A randomised controlled trial. Annals of Oncology, 20, 928–934.
To determine if baseline intervention in persons free of depression and anxiety can prevent development of depression or anxiety at 6 and 12 months after diagnosis
Subjects were randomized to either the immediate-intervention or delayed-intervention groups. Intervention consisted of a 90-minute face-to-face interview followed by two telephone interviews (45 minutes each) at two weeks and six weeks after the initial interview. Therapeutic intervention included storytelling about initial experiences with diagnosis, exploration of thoughts about cancer-related events and concerns, and use of a booklet for examples of ineffective coping strategies.
Active treatment
Randomized controlled trial
The therapeutic psychological intervention demonstrated the potential to prevent disorders relating to depression and anxiety in cancer patients at high risk for development of depression.
In-person or by-telephone cognitive behavioral intervention delivered by nurses trained in intervention delivery could help to reduce the prevalence of depression and anxiety in newly diagnosed cancer patients. Initial determination of risk for development of clinical depression and anxiety can be useful to identify those patients who may benefit most from such an intervention.