Group coping skills instruction and supportive group therapy for cancer patients: a comparison of strategies.

The present study compared the relative efficacy of comprehensive group coping skills training and supportive group therapy for enhancing cancer patients' adjustment to their disease. Forty-one cancer patients exhibiting a marked degree of psychosocial distress were randomized to one of three conditions: (a) group coping skills instruction, (b) support group therapy, and (c) no-treatment control. Support group sessions were nondireclive and emphasized the mutual sharing of feelings and concerns. Coping skills training included instruction in: (a) relaxation and stress management, (b) assertive communication, (c) cognitive restructuring and problem solving, (d) feelings management, and (e) pleasant activity planning. Results demonstrated a consistent superiority of the coping skills intervention over supportive group therapy and the no-treatment control. Patients receiving supportive group therapy exhibited little improvement, and untreated patients evidenced a significant deterioration in psychological adjustment. These results support providing psychologically distressed cancer patients with multifaceted coping skills training.