IMPROVEMENT OF PAIN AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS AFTER SIX MONTHS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY IN CANCER PATIENTS

摘要

Materials and methods: The effectiveness of six month individual psychotherapy in reducing pain was evaluated in 104 consecutive patients. At baseline (Tl) and after 6 months (T2) treated (n = 52) and control patients (n = 52) were administered validated scales for pain (BPI), alexithymia (TAS-20), coping (MAC), illness behaviour (IBQ), and psychological distress (HADS, SF-12). At Tl, in a series of unilinear and logistic regression models, pain experience was associated with alexithymia, hopelessness, anxiety, depression and poor psychosocial functioning. Patients enroled in the treatment group had worse health status at baseline than controls but alexithymia was not significantly different between the two groups.