Laura C. Bouchard

Long-term psychological benefits of cognitive-behavioral stress management for women with breast cancer: 11-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

Breast cancer survivors experience long‐term physical and psychological sequelae after their primary treatment that negatively influence their quality of life (QOL) and increase depressive symptoms. Group‐based cognitive‐behavioral stress management (CBSM) delivered after surgery for early‐stage breast cancer was previously associated with better QOL over a 12‐month follow‐up and with fewer depressive symptoms up to 5 years after study enrollment. This 8‐ to 15‐year follow‐up (median, 11 years) of a previously conducted trial (NCT01422551) evaluated whether women in this cohort receiving CBSM had fewer depressive symptoms and better QOL than controls at an 8‐ to 15‐year follow‐up.

Brief cognitive-behavioral and relaxation training interventions for breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE Women with breast cancer (BCa) report elevated distress postsurgery. Group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) following surgery improves psychological adaptation, though its key mechanisms remain speculative. This randomized controlled dismantling trial compared 2 interventions featuring elements thought to drive CBSM effects: a 5-week cognitive-behavioral training (CBT) and 5-week relaxation training (RT) versus a 5-week health education (HE) control group. METHOD Women with stage 0-III BCa (N = 183) were randomized to CBT, RT, or HE condition 2-10 weeks postsurgery. Psychosocial measures were collected at baseline (T1) and postintervention (T2). Repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) tested whether CBT and RT treatments improved primary measures of psychological adaptation and secondary measures of stress management resource perceptions from pre- to postintervention relative to HE. RESULTS Both CBT and RT groups reported reduced depressive affect. The CBT group reported improved emotional well-being/quality of life and less cancer-specific thought intrusions. The RT group reported improvements on illness-related social disruption. Regarding stress management resources, the CBT group reported increased reliability of social support networks, while the RT group reported increased confidence in relaxation skills. Psychological adaptation and stress management resource constructs were unchanged in the HE control group. CONCLUSIONS Nonmetastatic breast cancer patients participating in 2 forms of brief, 5-week group-based stress management intervention after surgery showed improvements in psychological adaptation and stress management resources compared with an attention-matched control group. Findings provide preliminary support suggesting that using brief group-based stress management interventions may promote adaptation among nonmetastatic breast cancer patients.

Randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral stress management in breast cancer: a brief report of effects on 5-year depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE Survivors of breast cancer experience stress and are at risk for depressive symptoms following primary treatment. Group-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) delivered postsurgery for nonmetastatic breast cancer (BCa) were previously associated with fewer depressive symptoms over a 12-month follow-up; few studies have examined the longer-term benefits of such psychosocial interventions. This 5-year follow-up study of a previously conducted trial (#NCT01422551) tested whether group-based CBSM following surgery for nonmetastatic BCa was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. METHODS Women (N = 240) with Stage 0-IIIb BCa were recruited 2-10 weeks postsurgery and randomized to a 10-week CBSM intervention group or a 1-day psycho-educational control group. Women were recontacted 5 years poststudy enrollment and reconsented to participate in the follow-up study (N = 130). Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses were employed to test for group differences on the CES-D at 5-year follow-up accounting for relevant covariates. RESULTS Participants assigned to CBSM reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms (M = 9.99, SE = 0.93) at the follow-up compared with those in the control group (M = 12.97, SE = 0.99), p = .030. With covariates, the group difference remained significant, p = .012. CONCLUSION Women who received CBSM postsurgery for BCa reported fewer depressive symptoms than those in the control group in this 5-year follow-up. Psychosocial interventions early in treatment may influence long-term psychological well-being in BCa survivors.

Postsurgical Depressive Symptoms and Proinflammatory Cytokine Elevations in Women Undergoing Primary Treatment for Breast Cancer

Objective Depression and inflammation may independently promote breast cancer (BCa) disease progression and poorer clinical outcomes. Depression has been associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers in medically healthy individuals and patients with cancer. However, inconsistencies in study time frames complicate interpretation of results within specific cancer types. This study examined relationships between depressive symptoms and inflammation in women with early-stage BCa before beginning adjuvant treatment. Methods Women with Stage 0-III BCa were recruited approximately 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and blood samples were collected to quantify circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-1&bgr;, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analyses of covariance were used to test for group differences (elevated versus low depressive symptoms) in levels of cytokines. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships between continuous severity of depressive symptoms and levels of cytokines adjusting for relevant biobehavioral covariates. Results Thirty-six (40%) of 89 patients showed elevated levels of depressive symptoms and, in adjusted models, had marginally higher levels of IL-1&bgr; (mean [M] = 14.49 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 6.11–32.65] versus M = 4.68 [95% CI = 1.96–9.86] and IL-6 [M = 88.74 {95% CI = 33.28–233.96} versus M = 61.52 {95% CI = 27.44–136.40}]) significantly higher levels of TNF-&agr; (M = 17.07 [95% CI = 8.27–34.32] versus M = 6.94 [95% CI = 3.58–12.80]) than did women with low depressive symptoms. Across the spectrum of depressive symptoms, greater magnitude of depressive symptoms was related to greater levels of IL-1&bgr; (&bgr; = 0.06, p = .006, R2 = 0.25) and TNF-&agr; (&bgr; = 0.06, p = .003, R2 = 0.27). Conclusions Postsurgery and preadjuvant treatment for early-stage BCa, depressive symptoms covary with elevated levels of multiple proinflammatory cytokines. Findings have implications for psychosocial and biological interventions concurrently focusing on depression and inflammation. Trial Registration: NCT01422551.

Stress management, leukocyte transcriptional changes and breast cancer recurrence in a randomized trial: An exploratory analysis

PURPOSE Cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) is an empirically-validated group-based psychosocial intervention. CBSM is related to decreased self-reported indicators of psychological adversity during breast cancer treatment and greater disease-free survival (DFS) vs. a control condition. This study examined relationships between CBSM, DFS, and a potential biobehavioral pathway linking these variables in breast cancer patients through a gene expression composite representing the leukocyte conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA). DESIGN Women with stage 0-IIIb breast cancer completed questionnaires and provided blood samples post-surgery. Participants were randomized to 10-week group-based CBSM or a psychoeducation control group and followed at 6 months, 12 months, and median 11 years. In total, 51 participants provided blood data for longitudinal analyses (CBSM n=28; Control n=23). Mixed model analyses examined CBSM effects on 6-12 month changes in CTRA expression (53 indicator genes representing pro-inflammatory, anti-viral and antibody production signaling). Cox regression models assessed the relationship between 6 and 12 month changes in CTRA expression and 11-year DFS. RESULTS Patients randomized to CBSM showed attenuated 6-12 month change in CTRA gene expression, whereas patients randomized to control showed increased CTRA expression (p=0.014). Average DFS was 5.92 years (SD=3.90). Greater 6-12 month CTRA increases predicted shorter 11-year DFS controlling for covariates (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS CBSM attenuated CTRA gene expression during the initial year of breast cancer treatment. In turn, greater increases in CTRA gene expression predicted shorter long-term DFS. These findings identify a biobehavioral oncology pathway to examine in future work.

Ethnic differences in types of social support from multiple sources after breast cancer surgery

ABSTRACT Objectives. Diagnosis of and treatment for breast cancer (BCa) may require psychological adaptation and often involve heightened distress. Several types of social support positively relate to psychological adaptation to BCa, and negative support is associated with poorer adaptation. Although Hispanic women report greater distress than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women after diagnosis of BCa, no studies have examined ethnic differences in types of social support received from varying sources after surgery for BCa. Design. Hispanic (N = 61) and NHW (N = 150) women diagnosed with early-stage BCa self-reported emotional, informational, instrumental, and negative support from five sources. Ethnic differences in levels of social support were compared using multiple regression analysis. Results. When controlling for age, income, days since surgery, and stage of disease in multivariable models there were no ethnic differences in levels of emotional support from any source. Hispanic women reported greater informational support from adult women family members and children and male adult family members than did NHW women. Instrumental support from adult women family members was also greater among Hispanic than NHW women. Hispanic women reported higher negative support from husbands/partners and from children and male adult family members. When the number of years in the USA was controlled, Hispanic women showed greater informational support from adult women family members, children and male adult family members, and friends. Instrumental support from adult women family members remained greater in Hispanic women, but negative support no longer differed. Conclusion. Family is a greater source of informational and instrumental support for Hispanic than NHW women. Hispanic women reported higher negative support from male sources than did NHW women. Level of support from different sources may also depend on time spent in the USA. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether patterns and sources of social support shift over the course of BCa treatment.

Post-surgical depressive symptoms and long-term survival in non-metastatic breast cancer patients at 11-year follow-up

BACKGROUND Mild to moderate depressive symptoms are common during treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer. The goal of this secondary analysis was to determine if depressive symptoms predict clinical outcomes at long-term follow-up. METHODS From 1998 to 2005, we interviewed 231 women with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression who were participating in a psychosocial study 2-10weeks post-surgery for non-metastatic breast cancer (Stage 0-IIIb). We conducted Kaplan Meier (K-M) curves and Cox proportional hazards (PH) models to examine associations between depressive symptoms, overall survival, and disease-free survival at 8-15-year follow-up. RESULTS A total of 95 women (41.1%) scored in the mild-moderately depressed range. Non-depressed women had longer overall survival (M=13.56years; SE=0.26) than those in the mild/moderate depressed group (M=11.45years; SE=0.40), Log-rank χ2(1)=4.41, p=0.036. Cox PH models, adjusting for covariates, showed comparable results: mild/moderate depressive symptoms hazard ratio=2.56, [95% CI, 1.11 to 5.91], p=0.027. Similar results were observed in a subsample with invasive disease (n=191). Depression category did not predict disease-free survival in the overall or invasive sample. CONCLUSIONS Screening and referrals for treatment of depressive symptoms, even at subclinical levels, is important early in treatment. A randomized trial is warranted to determine effects of depressive symptoms on clinical outcomes.

Brief report of a tablet-delivered psychosocial intervention for men with advanced prostate cancer: Acceptability and efficacy by race

Relative to non-Hispanic whites (NHW), black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer (PC) incidence, have poorer PC outcomes, and report greater compromises in health-related quality of life. Despite these challenges, black men are underrepresented in psychosocial cancer research, possibly due to limited access to supportive oncology programs. The purpose of this article is to examine the acceptability and efficacy for reducing disease-specific distress of a tablet-delivered psychosocial intervention for older men with advanced PC (APC) and explore differences by race. Men with APC (N = 192, 37.5% black, age M = 68.84 years) were randomized to 10-week Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management (CBSM) or attention-control Health Promotion (HP), both delivered via tablets. Assessments occurred at baseline in person, weekly during the 10-week program via tablets, and at 6 and 12 months in person. Weekly session evaluations and postprogram exit surveys assessed acceptability. Efficacy was assessed with a measure of PC-anxiety validated with racially diverse PC patients using linear mixed effects modeling. Study retention and group attendance did not differ by race. CBSM and HP were both acceptable among older APC patients. Black men rated both conditions more favorably than NHW men. Men in CBSM (vs. HP) reported greater reductions in PC-anxiety at 6 months (not sustained at 12 months). Black men in CBSM reported greater decreases in PC-anxiety over time compared with all other groups. Tablet-delivered CBSM and HP were acceptable for black and NHW APC patients, although black men rated both conditions more favorably. Black men reported a unique intervention benefit related to reduced disease-specific distress.

Differential psychological effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management among breast cancer patients with high and low initial cancer-specific distress

OBJECTIVE Cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) improves adaptation to primary treatment for breast cancer (BCa), evidenced as reductions in distress and increases in positive affect. Because not all BCa patients may need psychosocial intervention, identifying those most likely to benefit is important. A secondary analysis of a previous randomized trial tested whether baseline level of cancer-specific distress moderated CBSM effects on adaptation over 12 months. We hypothesized that patients experiencing the greatest cancer-specific distress in the weeks after surgery would show the greatest CBSM-related effects on distress and affect. METHODS Stages 0-III BCa patients (N = 240) were enrolled 2-8 weeks after surgery and randomized to either a 10-week group CBSM intervention or a 1-day psychoeducational (PE) control group. They completed the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Affect Balance Scale (ABS) at study entry, and at 6- and 12- month follow-ups. RESULTS Latent Growth Curve Modeling across the 12-month interval showed that CBSM interacted with initial cancer-related distress to influence distress and affect. Follow-up analyses showed that those with higher initial distress were significantly improved by CBSM compared to control treatment. No differential improvement in affect or intrusive thoughts occurred among low-distress women. CONCLUSION CBSM decreased negative affect and intrusive thoughts and increases positive affect among post-surgical BCa patients presenting with elevated cancer-specific distress after surgery, but did not show similar effects in women with low levels of cancer-specific distress. Identifying patients most in need of intervention in the period after surgery may optimize cost-effective cancer care.

Cancer symptom response as an oncology clinical trial end point

ABSTRACT Introduction: A critical challenge in oncology is interpreting clinical trial results to inform clinical decision making. Clinical trials typically focus on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as primary end points, which do not reflect early signs of meaningful patient benefit or harm. Cancer symptom response (CSR) can provide information about early treatment response, and studies show that CSR predicts long-term health outcomes. Areas covered: CSR requires careful consideration of its measurement and interpretation to facilitate integration into clinical practice. We describe considerations for the evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of CSR in clinical trials. To illustrate the potential clinical value of CSR, a retrospective analysis of a three-arm randomized cooperative-group clinical trial was performed. Expert commentary: Evaluation of CSR provides a meaningful assessment of early cancer treatment effects. It can act as an early signal of disease progression and death and thus can identify which patients with stable disease will have a more favorable prognosis. Future research will include development of methods for more accurate assessment of CSR, reduction of the number of symptoms used as signals for disease progression or survival by tumor type, and statistical methods that effectively correct for missing data and informative censoring.