This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. While viewing summary tables offers an informative glimpse at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations, they should be viewed with some caution. There are a number of concepts you must understand to be able to successfully read and interpret research tables. To get some background information about understanding research tables, please see How to Read a Research Table.
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Introduction: A number of randomized clinical trials have studied whether support groups improve long-term survival for women with breast cancer. A 1989 study by Spiegel et al. showed that women with metastatic breast cancer lived an average of 18 months longer if they joined a support group [1]. However, more recent, larger studies including a 2007 study by Spiegel et al., have not been able to confirm these results [2-6]. A meta-analysis of several studies also found no benefit of support groups on breast cancer survival [7].
Study selection criteria: Available randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses.
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Study
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Study Population (number of participants)
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Follow-up (years)
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Better Survival Rate in Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Attended Support Groups Compared to Those Who Did Not?
Yes / No
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Randomized Clinical Trials
|
| Kissane et al. [2] |
303
|
7*
|
No†
|
| Goodwin et al. [3] |
235 |
2 |
No
|
Edelman et al. [4]
|
121 |
5
|
No
|
| Spiegel et al. [5] |
125 |
14
|
No
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Spiegel et al. [1]
|
86
|
10
|
Yes
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Cunningham et al. [6]
|
66
|
5
|
No
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Meta-analyses
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| Edwards et al. [1,3,7] |
|
|
No |
* Estimated from data in study.
†Participants were women with early stage breast cancer.
References
1. Spiegel D, Bloom JR, Kraemer HC, et al. Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Lancet. 2:888-891, 1989.
2. Kissane DW, Love A, Hatton A, et al. Effect of cognitive-existential group therapy on survival in early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 22(21):4255-60, 2004.
3. Goodwin PJ, Leszcz M, Ennis M, et al. The effect of group psychosocial support on survival in metastatic breast cancer. New Engl J Med. 345(24):1719-1726, 2001.
4. Edelman S, Lemon J, Bell DR, et al. Effects of group CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) on the survival time of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 8:474-481, 1999.
5. Spiegel D, Butler LD, Giese-Davis J, et al. Effects of supportive-expressive group therapy on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer: a randomized prospective trial. Cancer. 110(5):1130-8, 2007.
6. Cunningham AJ, Edmonds CVI, Jenkins GP, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the effects of group psychological therapy on survival in women with metastatic breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 7:508-517, 1998.
7. Edwards AGK, Hulbert-Williams N, Neal RD. Psychological interventions for women with metastatic breast cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (3):CD004253, 2008.
Updated 09/12/09
