TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Group therapy doesn't improve survival for women with early-stage breast cancer, says a study in the Sept. 27 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
This study of 303 women found that cognitive-existential group therapy (CEGT), which is designed to enhance the mood and attitude of women with breast cancer, did not improve survival of women with early-stage disease.
"Although the results of this study do not demonstrate a survival benefit for patients receiving CEGT, they add to our body of knowledge of how psychosocial interventions can be used to help patients manage their disease," study author Dr. David W. Kissane, chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement.
"We hope that this study will help to frame future research on how group therapy can be used to improve patients' quality of life," Kissane said.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about breast cancer.
