![Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110801/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Behavioral-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective
Anxiety disorders are commonly experienced by breast cancer patients and are associated with decreased quality of life, significant deterioration in recreational and physical activities, sleep problems, and increased pain and fatigue. Behavioural activation (BA) is an empirically validated treatment for depression but is much less often studied in the treatment of anxiety symptomology. Considering that depression and anxiety disorders frequently coexist in breast cancer patients and given highly overlapping symptom patterns, it is reasonable to postulate that BA might help attenuate anxiety symptoms.
Method
Addressing this issue as a follow‐up to three recently completed clinical trials, the efficacy of BA for treating anxiety in breast cancer patients was examined (n = 71).
Results
Based on a reliable change index, 41% of patients experienced clinically significant anxiety reductions, with these breast cancer patients more likely to have severe anxiety and depression at pre‐treatment. Item analyses indicated that BA is generally effective in reducing most symptoms of anxiety, including somatic and cognitive manifestations.
Conclusions
BA may represent a parsimonious and practical treatment that may reduce anxiety symptoms in breast cancer patients. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Abstract
Funding: Research was supported by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure research grant awarded to the first author (BCTR0706709).
Conflict of interest: None.
Funding: Research was supported by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure research grant awarded to the first author (BCTR0706709).
Conflict of interest: None.
Notes
Funding: Research was supported by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure research grant awarded to the first author (BCTR0706709).
Conflict of interest: None.
1. A statistical (e.g., Bonferroni) correction was not used given experimenter reluctance to increase Type II error and other concerns associated with statistical adjustment procedures (Perneger, Citation1998).