Effectiveness of adjuvant psychological therapy on alexithymia fatigue and affective dimensions among women with breast cancer

Title

Effectiveness of adjuvant psychological therapy on alexithymia fatigue and affective dimensions among women with breast cancer

Creator

Ruth, Sharon

Contributor

Padmakumari, P

Description

Psychological aspects in women with breast cancer are many. Among them are those related to what patients go through at different phases of treatment such as newlinediagnosis, pre and post-surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Women with breast cancer experience psychological repercussions which are specific to them. Some of them are poor body image, self-depreciation, weight changes and hair loss can be distressing to women with breast cancer. newlineThe underlying cause could be a deficit in emotional processing and affect regulation. This could lead to an inability in verbalising and identifying feelings newlinewhich is known as alexithymia. Closely related is the concept of fatigue which is newlinesubjective and tiredness which could last beyond treatments related to cancer. An newlineoverriding concept which could explain and understand these concepts is affect and newlinemood. Towards this end the objective of the study was to examine the efficacy of adjuvant psychological therapy in breast cancer in terms of alexithymia, fatigue, newlinedepression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative affect. newlineThe study also explored if there was an association among alexithymia, fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress and negative affect. The study consisted of 20 patients in the intervention and control groups each. newlineThey were administered the following scales namely, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Checklist of Individual Strength, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Towards the end of the sessions, they were administered Revised Sessions Reactions Scale. Adjuvant Psychological Therapy is a therapy tailor made for those with cancer which includes both cognitive and behavioral techniques. The results indicated that among the subscales and total alexithymia scores, newlinethere were statistically significant differences across three time-frames in the newlineintervention group.

Source

Author's Submission

Date

2017-01-01

Publisher

Christ(Deemed to be University)

Subject

Psychology

Rights

Open Access

Relation

61000065

Format

PDF

Language

English

Type

PhD

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10603/150961