Maguire

1980

1983

172

Individual counseling by nurse specialist vs. control

Every 2 months after surgery until woman had “adapted well”

• Nursing interventions did not reduce morbidity directly; however, it led to increased recognition of the need for psychiatric referral which, in turn, reduced psychiatric morbidity, anxiety and depression.

Christensen

1983

20

Postmastectomy couple counseling vs. control

Weekly x 4 weeks

• No overall treatment effects (small sample size may have precluded identification of effects)

• Adjusted analyses suggested tentative benefits in sexual satisfaction and psychological status (husbands and wives) and depression (wives).

Bridge

1988

154

Structured relaxation vs. relaxation plus imagery vs. attention control

Weekly x 30 minutes

x 6 weeks

• Overall mood and relaxation better for relaxation plus imagery than for relaxation alone.

• Both better than attention control arm.

Cimprich

1993

32

“Restorative intervention” - individualized protocol to identify and practice restorative experiences

20–30 minutes 3x/week

x 7 weeks

• Intervention improved attentional capacity and total attentional score.