Effect of Psychosocial Intervention in Women Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis

摘要

The present study examined the effects of a presurgical psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients on immune function. Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to either a control (standard care) or an intervention group (standard care plus psychosocial intervention). The two-session intervention included: (1) relaxation techniques; (2) problem-solving and crisis management; (3) psychosocial support; and (4) health education. Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined at three time points. While NK cell cytotoxicity did not reliably vary as a function of time or treatment group, a significant interaction (Treatment X Time) was noted for IFN-gamma (F = 5.81; p < .01). Closer examination revealed that IFN-gamma levels declined significantly in controls over the course of the study, while intervention group IFN-gamma levels actually increased. Mirroring the IFN-gamma results, psychological assessment indicated that the intervention had a positive emotional impact on patients. Despite a number of methodological and interpretational difficulties, the present findings suggest that a brief, presurgical intervention may successfully enhance IFN-gamma (a critical cytokine for cell-mediated immune responses) production in breast cancer patients.