Abstract:
Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the greatest problems with which cancer survivors have to deal. High levels of FCR are characterized by intrusive thoughts about cancer-related events and re-experiencing these events, avoidance of reminders of cancer, and hypervigilance, similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy focuses on these images and memories. It is effective in reducing PTSD and may be effective in reducing high levels of FCR.Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of EMDR for severe FCR in breast and colorectal cancer survivors.Method: A multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (n = 8) was used. Daily repeated measurements for FCR were taken during the baseline phase and treatment phase, post-treatment, and at the 3 month follow-up. Participants answered the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) and the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, Dutch version (FCRI-NL) five times, i.e. at the start and at the end of each phase (baseline, treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up). The study was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NL8223).Results: Visual analysis and effect size calculation by Tau-U were executed for the daily questionnaire on FCR. The weighted average Tau-U score was .63 (p < .01) for baseline versus post-treatment, indicating large change, and .53 (p < .01) between baseline and follow-up, indicating moderate change. The scores on the CWS and FCRI-NL-SF decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up.Conclusion: The results seem promising for EMDR therapy as a potentially effective treatment for FCR. Further research is recommended.
Patients who experience high fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) often have intrusive memories and images about (future) cancer-related events.Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can focus on these intrusions.EMDR therapy is found to be a promising therapy for patients experiencing high FCR.
摘要:
背景:对癌症复发的恐惧(FCR)是癌症幸存者必须处理的最大问题之一。高水平的FCR的特点是对癌症相关事件的侵入性思考和重新体验这些事件,避免癌症的提醒,和高度警惕,类似于创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)。眼动脱敏和再处理(EMDR)治疗集中在这些图像和记忆上。它可有效减少PTSD,并可有效减少高水平的FCR。目的:本研究的目的是探讨EMDR对乳腺癌和结直肠癌幸存者中严重FCR的有效性。方法:采用多基线单病例实验设计(n=8)。在基线阶段和治疗阶段每天重复测量FCR,治疗后,在3个月的随访中。参与者回答了癌症担忧量表(CWS)和对癌症复发的恐惧,荷兰语版本(FCRI-NL)五次,即在每个阶段的开始和结束时(基线,治疗,治疗后,和后续行动)。该研究在clinicaltrials.gov(NL8223)上进行了前瞻性注册。结果:对FCR的每日问卷进行了视觉分析和Tau-U效应大小计算。基线与治疗后的加权平均Tau-U评分为.63(p<.01),表明大的变化,基线和随访之间的0.53(p<0.01),表明适度的变化。从基线到随访,CWS和FCRI-NL-SF的得分显着降低。结论:EMDR治疗作为FCR的潜在有效治疗方法,结果似乎很有希望。建议进一步研究。
对癌症复发(FCR)有高度恐惧的患者通常会对(未来)癌症相关事件产生侵入性记忆和图像。眼动脱敏和再处理(EMDR)治疗可以集中在这些入侵上。发现EMDR疗法对于经历高FCR的患者是有希望的疗法。