Feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy in addressing posttraumatic stress disorder in Iranian patients with breast cancer
Description
Objective:
This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy (WET) in reducing symptoms of PTSD in Iranian women with breast cancer. Secondary aims included examining the influence of WET on quality of life (QoL), overgeneral memory and illness perceptions.
Method:
Forty-six females with breast cancer and clinical symptoms of PTSD referred to the Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran were randomly assigned to either WET (n=23) or control (n =23) groups. WET is a 5-session low-intensity exposure-based intervention for treating PTSD. The control group had no additional contact. Measures assessing PTSD, illness perceptions, overgeneral memory, and QoL were administered at baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up.
Results:
Acceptability of WET was high; all participants completed all WET sessions. At post-intervention, 95.65% of the WET group met criteria for reliable change and 100% met criteria for minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. At follow-up, all WET participants met criteria for reliable change, MCID and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. No participants in the control group met reliable change, MCID or clinically significant change. The WET group had improved QoL and memory specificity and decreased threatening illness perceptions at post-intervention and follow-up when compared to controls.
Conclusion:
WET may be a useful intervention for use with breast cancer patients with PTSD symptoms and may be an important adjunct to medical and pharmacological treatments, particularly in LMICs. This study indicates further research in this area is warranted.
This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy (WET) in reducing symptoms of PTSD in Iranian women with breast cancer. Secondary aims included examining the influence of WET on quality of life (QoL), overgeneral memory and illness perceptions.
Method:
Forty-six females with breast cancer and clinical symptoms of PTSD referred to the Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran were randomly assigned to either WET (n=23) or control (n =23) groups. WET is a 5-session low-intensity exposure-based intervention for treating PTSD. The control group had no additional contact. Measures assessing PTSD, illness perceptions, overgeneral memory, and QoL were administered at baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up.
Results:
Acceptability of WET was high; all participants completed all WET sessions. At post-intervention, 95.65% of the WET group met criteria for reliable change and 100% met criteria for minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. At follow-up, all WET participants met criteria for reliable change, MCID and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. No participants in the control group met reliable change, MCID or clinically significant change. The WET group had improved QoL and memory specificity and decreased threatening illness perceptions at post-intervention and follow-up when compared to controls.
Conclusion:
WET may be a useful intervention for use with breast cancer patients with PTSD symptoms and may be an important adjunct to medical and pharmacological treatments, particularly in LMICs. This study indicates further research in this area is warranted.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Zolfa, R., Moradi, A., Parhoon, H., Parhoon, K., & Jobson, L. (2022). Feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy in addressing posttraumatic stress disorder in Iranian patients with breast cancer. Pscyho-Oncology. doi:10.1002/pon.6037
Citation
“Feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy in addressing posttraumatic stress disorder in Iranian patients with breast cancer,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 18, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/27583.