Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Study protocol

Efficacy of psychodynamic short-term psychotherapy for depressed breast cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Rüdiger Zwerenz, Manfred E Beutel, Barbara H Imruck, Jörg Wiltink, Antje Haselbacher, Christian Ruckes, Heinz Schmidberger, Gerald Hoffmann, Marcus Schmidt, Uwe Köhler, Dagmar Langanke, Rolf-Dieter Kortmann, Susanne Kuhnt, Gregor Weißflog, Yvette Barthel, Katja Leuteritz, Elmar Brähler

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

There is a lack of psychotherapeutic trials of treatments of comorbid depression in cancer patients. Our study determines the efficacy of a manualized short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and predictors of outcome by personality and quality of the therapeutic relationship.

Methods/design

Eligible breast cancer patients with comorbid depression are assigned to short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (up to 20 + 5 sessions) or to treatment as usual (augmented by recommendation for counseling center and physician information). We plan to recruit a total of 180 patients (90 per arm) in two centers. Assessments are conducted pretreatment, after 6 (treatment termination) and 12 months (follow-up). The primary outcome measures are reduction of the depression score in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and remission of depression as assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Disorders by independent, blinded assessors at treatment termination. Secondary outcomes refer to quality of life.

Discussion

We investigate the efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in acute care and we aim to identify predictors for acceptance and success of treatment.

Trial registration

ISRCTN96793588
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Mitchell A, Chan M, Bhatti H, Halton M, Grassi L, Johansen C, Meader N: Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder in oncological, haematological, and palliative-care settings: a meta-analysis of 94 interview-based studies. Lancet Oncol. 2011, 12: 160-174. 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70002-X.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Li M, Fitzgerald P, Rodin G: Evidence-based treatment of depression in patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012, 30: 1187-1196. 10.1200/JCO.2011.39.7372.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Sharpe M, Strong V, Allen K, Rush R, Postma K, Tulloh A, Maguire P, House A, Ramirez A, Cull A: Major depression in outpatients attending a regional cancer centre: screening and unmet treatment needs. Br J Cancer. 2004, 90: 314-320. 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601578.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Keller M, Sommerfeldt S, Fischer C, Knight L, Riesbeck M, Lowe B, Herfarth C, Lehnert T: Recognition of distress and psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients: a multi-method approach. Ann Oncol. 2004, 15: 1243-1249. 10.1093/annonc/mdh318.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Jim HS, Small BJ, Minton S, Andrykowski M, Jacobsen PB: History of major depressive disorder prospectively predicts worse quality of life in women with breast cancer. Ann Behav Med. 2012, 43: 402-408. 10.1007/s12160-011-9333-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Satin JR, Linden W, Phillips MJ: Depression as a predictor of disease progression and mortality in cancer patients: a meta-analysis. Cancer. 2009, 115: 5349-5361. 10.1002/cncr.24561.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Hodges L, Butcher I, Kleiboer A, McHugh G, Murray G, Walker J, Wilson R, Sharpe M: Patient and general practitioner preferences for the treatment of depression in patients with cancer: how, who, and where?. J Psychosom Res. 2009, 67: 399-402. 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.03.008.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Luborsky L, Diguer L, Cacciola J, Barber J, Moras K, Schmidt K, DeRubeis R: Factors in outcome of short-term dynamic psychotherapy for chronic vs nonchronic major depression. J Psychother Pract Res. 1996, 5: 152-159.PubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Leichsenring F, Salzer S, Jaeger U, Kächele H, Kreische R, Leweke F, Ruger U, Winkelbach C, Leibing E: Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2009, 166: 875-881. 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09030441.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Leichsenring F, Hoyer J, Beutel M, Herpertz S, Hiller W, Irle E, Joraschky P, König HH, de Liz TM, Nolting B, et al: The social phobia psychotherapy research network. The first multicenter randomized controlled trial of psychotherapy for social phobia: rationale, methods and patient characteristics. Psychother Psychosom. 2009, 78: 35-41. 10.1159/000162299.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Leichsenring F, Beutel M, Leibing E: Psychodynamic psychotherapy for social phobia: a treatment manual based on supportive-expressive therapy. Bull Menninger Clin. 2007, 71: 56-83. 10.1521/bumc.2007.71.1.56.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Haselbacher A, Barthel Y, Brähler E, Imruck B, Kuhnt S, Zwerenz R, Beutel ME: Psychoanalytisch-orientierte fokaltherapie der depression bei Krebskranken. Psychotherapeut. 2010, 55: 321-328. 10.1007/s00278-010-0758-3.CrossRef
13.
Blatt SJ, Zuroff DC: Empirical evaluation of the assumptions in identifying evidence based treatments in mental health. Clin Psychol Rev. 2005, 25: 459-486. 10.1016/j.cpr.2005.03.001.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Luborsky L, McLellan AT, Woody GE, O’Brien CP, Auerbach A: Therapist success and its determinants. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985, 42: 602-611. 10.1001/archpsyc.1985.01790290084010.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Zigmond A, Snaith R: The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983, 67: 361-370. 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Hermann C, Buss U, Snaith R: HADS-D - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Deutsche Version: Ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung von Angst und Depressivität in der somatischen Medizin, Testdokumentation und Handanweisung. 1995, Bern: Huber
17.
Aaronson NK, Ahmedzai S, Bergman B, Bullinger M, Cull A, Duez NJ, Filiberti A, Flechtner H, Fleishman SB, de Haes JC, et al: The european organization for research and treatment of cancer QLQ-C30: a quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993, 85: 365-376. 10.1093/jnci/85.5.365.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Sprangers MA, Groenvold M, Arraras JI, Franklin J, te Velde A, Muller M, Franzini L, Williams A, de Haes HC, Hopwood P, et al: The European organization for research and treatment of cancer breast cancer-specific quality-of-life questionnaire module: first results from a three-country field study. J Clin Oncol. 1996, 14: 2756-2768.PubMed
19.
Beutel M, Wiltink J, Hafner C, Reiner I, Bleichner F, Blatt S: Abhängigkeit und selbstkritik als psychologische dimensionen der depression - validierung der deutschsprachigen version des depressive experience questionnaire (DEQ). Z Kl Psych Psychiatr. 2004, 52: 1-14.
20.
Smets EM, Garssen B, Bonke B, De Haes JC: The multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI) psychometric qualities of an instrument to assess fatigue. J Psychosom Res. 1995, 39: 315-325. 10.1016/0022-3999(94)00125-O.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Bassler M, Potratz B, Krauthauser H: Der “Helping Alliance Questionnaire” (HAQ) von Luborsky. Psychotherapeut. 1995, 40: 23-32.
22.
Wittchen H, Zaudig M, Fydrich T: SKID I - Strukturiertes Klinisches Interview für DSM-IV. 1997, Göttingen: Hogrefe
23.
Barber J, Critis-Christoph P: Development of a therapist adherence/competence rating scale for supportive-expressive dynamic psychotherapy: a preliminary report. Psychother Res. 1996, 6: 81-94. 10.1080/10503309612331331608.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Wiltink J, Edinger J, Haselbacher A, Imruck B, Beutel M: Adherence und competence in der psychotherapieforschung: neuere entwicklungen. Klin Diagn E. 2010, 3: 76-93.
25.
26.
Leichsenring F: Comparative effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in depression: a meta-analytic approach. Clin Psychol Rev. 2001, 21: 401-419. 10.1016/S0272-7358(99)00057-4.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Posternak MA, Solomon DA, Leon AC, Mueller TI, Shea MT, Endicott J, Keller MB: The naturalistic course of unipolar major depression in the absence of somatic therapy. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2006, 194: 324-329. 10.1097/01.nmd.0000217820.33841.53.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Posternak MA, Miller I: Untreated short-term course of major depression: a meta-analysis of outcomes from studies using wait-list control groups. J Affect Disord. 2001, 66: 139-146. 10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00304-9.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Whiteford H, Harris M, McKeon G, Baxter A, Pennell C, Barendregt J, Wang J: Estimating remission from untreated major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2012, 10.1017/S0033291712001717.
30.
World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Recommendations guiding physicians in biomedical research involving human subjects. JAMA. 1997, 277: 925-926.CrossRef
31.
Applebaum AJ, Lichtenthal WG, Pessin HA, Radomski JN, Simay Gokbayrak N, Katz AM, Rosenfeld B, Breitbart W: Factors associated with attrition from a randomized controlled trial of meaning-centered group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. Psychooncology. 2011, 10.1002/pon.2013.
Metadata
Title
Efficacy of psychodynamic short-term psychotherapy for depressed breast cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Rüdiger Zwerenz
Manfred E Beutel
Barbara H Imruck
Jörg Wiltink
Antje Haselbacher
Christian Ruckes
Heinz Schmidberger
Gerald Hoffmann
Marcus Schmidt
Uwe Köhler
Dagmar Langanke
Rolf-Dieter Kortmann
Susanne Kuhnt
Gregor Weißflog
Yvette Barthel
Katja Leuteritz
Elmar Brähler
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-12-578

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Cancer 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

RON is not a prognostic marker for resectable pancreatic cancer

Research article

L-DOPA decarboxylase mRNA expression is associated with tumor stage and size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

Research article

Options for early breast cancer follow-up in primary and secondary care - a systematic review

Research article

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of limited brain metastases: a single-centre individualized treatment approach

Research article

Human α-defensin (DEFA) gene expression helps to characterise benign and malignant salivary gland tumours

Research article

Vitamin D3receptor is highly expressed in Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Image Credits