Group Therapy and Hypnosis Reduce Metastatic Breast Carcinoma Pain

TLDR

Pain and mood disturbance are common in women with metastatic breast carcinoma. The study followed 54 women over a year, offering weekly group therapy with or without self‑hypnosis training to enhance pain and stress coping. Both interventions reduced self‑rated pain and suffering, with the combined group therapy and self‑hypnosis yielding the greatest pain control, though pain frequency and duration were unchanged and improvements correlated with mood changes.

Abstract

The pain and mood disturbance of 54 women with metastatic carcinoma of the breast were studied over the course of one year. A random sample was offered weekly group therapy during the year, with or without self-hypnosis training directed toward enhancing their competence at mastering pain and stress related to cancer. Both treatment groups demonstrated significantly less self-rated pain sensation (t = 2.5 p less than 0.02) and suffering (t = 2.17, p less than 0.03) than the control sample. Those who were offered the self-hypnosis training as well as group therapy fared best in controlling the pain sensation (F = 3.1, p less than 0.05). Pain frequency and duration were not affected. Changes in pain measures were significantly correlated with changes in self-rated total mood disturbance on the Profile of Mood States and with its anxiety, depression, and fatigue subscales. Possible mechanisms for the effectiveness of these interventions are discussed.