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The Effects of Anxiety Management Training on Psychological Variables and Immune Parameters in Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

K. Elsesser
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
M. van Berkel
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
G. Sartory
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
W. Biermann-Göcke
Affiliation:
Saint Anthony Clinic, Wuppertal, Germany
S. Öhl
Affiliation:
Saint Anthony Clinic, Wuppertal, Germany

Abstract

The effect on psychological and immune function measures of a 6-week psychological intervention for anxiety states was evaluated in cancer patients who had already completed medical treatment for a tumor. Ten patients were treated with anxiety management and stress inoculation training while another ten served as a waiting list control group. The treated group showed a slight improvement in psychological variables but there were no group differences in immunological measures. Changes in the latter were, however, correlated with changes in psychological variables, notably, an increase in the T4/T8 ratio, with an improvement in the Quality of Life index.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1994

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