Project Genesis: Assessing the Efficacy of Problem-Solving Therapy for Distressed Adult Cancer Patients.

TLDR

PST was also provided to patients together with a significant other. The study assessed PST’s efficacy in reducing psychological distress among 132 adult cancer patients. Participants receiving PST performed significantly better than waiting‑list controls, with greater and sustained benefits when delivered with a significant other, and these improvements were maintained up to one year.

Abstract

The efficacy of problem-solving therapy (PST) to reduce psychological distress was assessed among a sample of 132 adult cancer patients. A second condition provided PST for both the patient and a significant other. At posttreatment, all participants receiving PST fared significantly better than waiting list control patients. Further, improvements in problem solving were found to correlate significantly with improvements in psychological distress and overall quality of life. No differences in symptom reduction were identified between the 2 treatment protocols. At a 6-month follow-up, however, patients who received PST along with their significant other reported lower levels of psychological distress as compared with members of the PST-alone condition on approximately half of the outcome measures. These effects were further maintained 1-year posttreatment.