Improving Quality of Life in Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Brief Intervention for Patients and Their Partners

Abstract

The current study examines the effects of a psychological intervention that encourages emotional expression in ovarian cancer patients and their partners. Ovarian cancer patients (n=130) and their partners are randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Following Pennebaker's model, subjects in the intervention group are asked to write about their deepest thoughts and feelings regarding their cancer experience for 29 minutes each day for three consecutive days. The control group is asked to write about trivial non- emotional topics. Outcome variables including psychological distress, quality of life, and physical symptoms are assessed at baseline and over a period of nine months after the intervention (one week, three, six, and nine months).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA411727

Entities

People

  • Sandra G. Zakowski

Organizations

  • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • Cancer
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Processing
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Electronic Mail
  • Information Operations
  • Intervention
  • Neoplasms
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Personnel Management
  • Quality Of Life
  • Verification

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Oncology (Cancer Research).
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.