Emerging evidence that group therapy helps men with prostate cancer.
What is the study about?
We wanted to find out whether a group therapy improves mental wellbeing and depression of men living with prostate cancer.
How was the study done?
Living with prostate cancer is an intensive 3-week group therapy with a guided process of a life review in Vancouver, British Columbia.
We looked at the mental health outcomes of 39 group participants surveyed regularly between October 2016 and March 2018.
What did the study find?
We found promising evidence of improved well-being and depression at three and twelve months, respectively.
Interviews with men provided further insights into how the group helped men cope with the difficulties of living with prostate cancer.
Therapy also improved their communication and relationship skills with friends and family.
The facilitation was essential to guiding participants to speak the unspeakable.
Why is the study important?
Although the findings need to be verified through bigger studies, there is some evidence that group therapy facilitates insight into the impact of prostate cancer in their lives.
Participants experience diminished featured of depression and isolation.
Men also enhance their communication skills within and beyond the group setting.
Cited study: Kuhl, D. R., Lutz, K., Wu, E., Arsovska, O., Berkowitz, J., Klimas, J., Sundar, M., Goldenberg, S. L., Higano, C. S. (2023). Living with prostate cancer: a mixed-method evaluation of group therapy intervention to alleviate psychological distress in a Canadian setting. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31(7), 398. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-023-07866-5
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