Attachment-oriented psychological intervention for couples facing breast cancer: protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is evidence that both breast cancer patients and their partners are affected emotionally, when facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Several couple interventions have been evaluated, but there is a need for couple intervention studies with a clear theoretical basis and a strong design. The Hand in Hand intervention is designed to enhance interdependent coping in the couples and to address patients and partners that are both initially distressed and non-distressed.

Methods

The Hand in Hand study is a randomised controlled trial among 199 breast cancer patients and their partners. Couples were randomised to 4-8 couple sessions with a psychologist in addition to usual care, or to usual care only, approximately 2 months after the patients' primary surgery date. The

SUBMITTER: Nicolaisen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4363354 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature