Journal
JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE
Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 1197-1209Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02163.x
Keywords
Prostate Cancer; Cancer and Sexual Quality of Life; Psychological Intervention; Intimacy-Enhancing Treatment
Categories
Funding
- Established Investigator in Cancer Prevention and Control Award
- NCI [K05 CA109008]
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Society
- The Society of MSKCC
- [P30 CA006927]
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Introduction. Few couple-focused interventions have been developed to improve distress and relationship outcomes among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and their partners. Aims. We examined the effects of a five-session Intimacy-Enhancing Therapy (IET) vs. Usual Care (UC) on the psychological and relationship functioning of men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and their partners. Pre-intervention levels of psychological and relationship functioning were evaluated as moderators of intervention effects. Methods. Seventy-one survivors and their partners completed a baseline survey and were subsequently randomly assigned to receive five sessions of IET or UC (no treatment). Eight weeks after the baseline assessment, a follow-up survey was administered to survivor and partner. Main Outcome Measures. Distress, well-being, relationship satisfaction, relationship intimacy, and communication were investigated as the main outcomes. Results. IET effects were largely moderated by pre-intervention psychosocial and relationship factors. Those survivors who had higher levels of cancer concerns at pretreatment had significantly reduced concerns following IET. Similar moderating effects for pre-intervention levels were reported for the effects of IET on self-disclosure, perceived partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness. Among partners beginning the intervention with higher cancer-specific distress, lower marital satisfaction, lower intimacy, and poorer communication, IET improved these outcomes. Conclusions. IET had a marginally significant main effect upon survivor well-being but was effective among couples with fewer personal and relationship resources. Subsequent research is needed to replicate these findings with a larger sample and a longer follow-up. Manne SL, Nelson CJ, Kissane DW, Mulhall JP, Winkel G, and Zaider T. Intimacy-enhancing psychological intervention for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners: A pilot study. J Sex Med 2011;8:1197-1209.
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