Psychotherapy for the Spouses of Lung Cancer Patients: Assessment of an Intervention

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Abstract
This study was a randomized prospective clinical trial to test the effect of a professionally provided program of social support counselling on newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and their families. Over the 6 months of the intervention there was no differential change by experimental status for either the patients or their principal support in outcome measures of emotional, social, or physical function. This paper reviews methodological issues which must be considered before accepting these negative findings. Further, it discusses important design considerations relevant for any psychotherapy intervention study in medical patients.