Grant Number:	5R01CA107477-05 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Baucom, Donald
Organization:	Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Project Title:	A Couples Approach to Enhance Breast Cancer Survirorship
Fiscal Year:	2008

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer has a significant and enduring impact not only on the patient, but also on the patient's spouse or partner, and the couple's relationship as well. Breast cancer frequently leads to emotional distress for both the patient and partner, disturbances in the patient's body image, role functioning, and sexual functioning, and maladaptive patterns of interaction between the patient and partner, all of which impact both the patient's adjustment and the couple's relationship functioning. The ultimate goal of our research is to help couples in which one partner has cancer improve their ability to assist each other, both to address areas of concern and to maximize positive aspects of life. The proposed study evaluates the efficacy of a newly developed, cognitive-behavioral couple-based intervention entitled CanThrive. 292 women recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and their partners will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) CanThrive, which teaches couples well-validated specific relationship skills to improve their ability to communicate effectively and problem-solve about cancer-related issues, maintain satisfactory sexual functioning, and maximize positive interactions; (2) Cancer Education which provides couples with information about breast cancer and its treatment; or (3) Treatment-As-Usual, in which couples receive no active intervention. Assessment conducted before and after treatment and at 6 and 12 months follow-up includes patients' reports of communication with the husband, support from the husband, sexual adjustment and self-schema, benefit finding, mood and emotional well being, social role functioning, pain, fatigue, and physical well being; and husbands' ratings of communication with the patient, support from the patient, sexual functioning, benefit finding, mood, and psychological well being. Patients also complete daily diaries regarding perceived partner support, mood, symptoms, and role function. Also at each evaluation, couples engage in three videotaped cancer-related conversations that will be rated on dimensions of partner support and communication skills. This study may lead to major advances in our understanding of the role of relationship skills and partner involvement in the adjustment of cancer patients. If successful, it will enlarge our repertoire of methods for effectively enhancing the well being of both cancer patients and their partners.




Interpersonal dynamics of vocal fundamental frequency in couples: Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and relationship distress.
Authors: Fischer M.S. , Baucom D.H. , Weber D.M. , Bauer D.J. , Munion A.K. , Porter L.S. , Christensen A. , Bulik C.M. , Whisman M.A. , Abramowitz J.S. , et al. .
Source: Behaviour Research And Therapy, 2024 Sep; 180, p. 104571.
EPub date: 2024-05-23 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 39084003
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Emotional Arousal Predicts Observed Social Support In German And American Couples Talking About Breast Cancer
Authors: Fischer M.S. , Baucom D.H. , Baucom B.R. , Weusthoff S. , Hahlweg K. , Atkins D.C. , Porter L.S. , Zimmermann T. .
Source: Journal Of Family Psychology : Jfp : Journal Of The Division Of Family Psychology Of The American Psychological Association (division 43), 2015 Oct; 29(5), p. 744-54.
PMID: 26075737
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Stress Buffering Effects Of Daily Spousal Support On Women's Daily Emotional And Physical Experiences In The Context Of Breast Cancer Concerns
Authors: Gremore T.M. , Baucom D.H. , Porter L.S. , Kirby J.S. , Atkins D.C. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: Health Psychology : Official Journal Of The Division Of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2011 Jan; 30(1), p. 20-30.
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Pain Coping In Latino Populations
Authors: Campbell L.C. , Andrews N. , Scipio C. , Flores B. , Feliu M.H. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: The Journal Of Pain : Official Journal Of The American Pain Society, 2009 Oct; 10(10), p. 1012-9.
PMID: 19595635
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Quantifying The Recruitment Challenges With Couple-based Interventions For Cancer: Applications To Early-stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Fredman S.J. , Baucom D.H. , Gremore T.M. , Castellani A.M. , Kallman T.A. , Porter L.S. , Kirby J.S. , Dees E.C. , Klauber-Demore N. , Peppercorn J. , et al. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2009 Jun; 18(6), p. 667-73.
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A Couple-based Intervention For Female Breast Cancer
Authors: Baucom D.H. , Porter L.S. , Kirby J.S. , Gremore T.M. , Wiesenthal N. , Aldridge W. , Fredman S.J. , Stanton S.E. , Scott J.L. , Halford K.W. , et al. .
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Authors: Keefe F. , Abernethy A.P. , Wheeler J. , Affleck G. .
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"does One Size Fit All?" Moderators In Psychosocial Interventions For Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Zimmermann T. , Heinrichs N. , Baucom D.H. .
Source: Annals Of Behavioral Medicine : A Publication Of The Society Of Behavioral Medicine, 2007 Nov-Dec; 34(3), p. 225-39.
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Predicting Negative Mood State And Personal Growth In African American And White Long-term Breast Cancer Survivors
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Methodologically Sound, Cost-effective Research On The Outcome Of Couple Therapy
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Source: Journal Of Family Psychology : Jfp : Journal Of The Division Of Family Psychology Of The American Psychological Association (division 43), 2005 Mar; 19(1), p. 6-17.
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Psychosocial Issues Confronting Young Women With Breast Cancer
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