Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Women prescribed adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for nonmetastatic breast cancer may experience a decline in positive psychological well‐being (PPWB) and self‐efficacy. Brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relaxation training (RT) interventions have shown short‐term efficacy in reducing distress, but their impact on PPWB and self‐efficacy over longer periods among women prescribed AET is unknown.
Aims
We aimed to investigate longitudinal effects of CBT and RT on PPWB and self‐efficacy among women prescribed AET.
Methods
This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing 5‐session CBT versus RT versus a time‐matched health education (HE) control for women with nonmetastatic breast cancer examined PPWB (positive affect, benefit finding, positive states of mind, optimism), coping self‐efficacy, and relaxation self‐efficacy at four timepoints over the first‐year post‐diagnosis and at median 8‐year follow‐up. Piecewise hierarchical linear modeling tested intervention effects on longitudinal trajectories among women prescribed AET from the parent study (N = 135).
Results
Over the first‐year post‐surgery, positive affect and relaxation self‐efficacy increased across all conditions (ps < 0.03). Women in CBT reported enhanced positive states of mind compared to those in HE (p = 0.044) and enhanced coping self‐efficacy versus those in RT (p = 0.029). Women in HE reported enhanced coping self‐efficacy versus those in RT (p = 0.043). All intervention effects persisted at 8‐year follow‐up. There were no significant effects on optimism or benefit finding.
Conclusions
Brief interventions may bolster aspects of PPWB and self‐efficacy in women prescribed AET. Testing is warranted to determine whether more PPWB components can be incorporated into these interventions to further enhance outcomes.