Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Grant Details

Grant Number: 1R01CA140297-01A2 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator: Manne, Sharon
Organization: Univ Of Med/Dent Nj-R W Johnson Med Sch
Project Title: Intimacy-Enhancing Couples' Intervention for Localized Prostate Cancer
Fiscal Year: 2011


Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer can reduce the quality of life for both patient and partner. Our preliminary studies as well as the work of others suggest that couples' communication and intimacy play a role in the psychological and relationship functioning of both patient and partner. These results suggest that enhancing intimacy via improvements in the communication strategies couples utilize may be a prime target for psychological intervention. We have developed an Intimacy- Enhancing Couples' Intervention (IEC) and tested it against a Usual care control (UC) in a small randomized clinical trial. The primary goal of IEC is to teach couples relationship-enhancing communication skills and bolster relationship intimacy. Preliminary results suggested that IEC reduced patient and partner distress and improved communication and intimacy. The goal of the proposed study is to conduct a larger scale trial to evaluate IEC's efficacy against an attention control (a General Health and Wellness Intervention; GHW) and to evaluate moderators and mechanisms for the treatment's effects. 469 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and their partners will be randomly assigned to IEC, GHW, or UC. Participants will complete surveys pre-intervention, 5 weeks, 12 weeks, and six months post-baseline. The aims are: 1) To evaluate the impact of an IEC versus a GHW and UCl on patient and partner psychological and relationship outcomes. 2) To determine whether relationship length, pre-intervention marital satisfaction, and men's pre-intervention traditional masculinity moderate the effects of IEC on couples' psychological and relationship outcomes. IEC will have a stronger impact on patient and partner psychological and relationship functioning among patients and partners married a longer period of time, patients and partners reporting lower pre-intervention levels of marital satisfaction, and among patients reporting higher levels of traditional masculinity; 3) To evaluate whether IEC has an effect on couples' communication and intimacy when compared with GHW and UC, and to determine whether changes in relationship communication and intimacy mediate changes in couples' psychological and relationship outcomes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Our prior research has indicated that relationship communication and intimacy are related to psychological distress and relationship satisfaction of men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and their partners. We have developed and conducted a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of a new intimacy-enhancing couples' intervention for this population. In the proposed study, we seek to evaluate the intervention in a large randomized clinical trial, identify characteristics of patients and partners who may benefit the most from this intervention, and evaluate possible mechanisms of change



Publications

Relationship communication and the course of psychological outcomes among couples coping with localised prostate cancer.
Authors: Manne S.L. , Kashy D. , Myers-Virtue S. , Zaider T. , Kissane D.W. , Heckman C.J. , Kim I. , Penedo F. , Lee D. .
Source: European Journal Of Cancer Care, 2021-02-14 00:00:00.0; , p. e13401.
EPub date: 2021-02-14 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 33586282
Related Citations

Couple-focused interventions for men with localized prostate cancer and their spouses: A randomized clinical trial.
Authors: Manne S.L. , Kashy D.A. , Zaider T. , Kissane D. , Lee D. , Kim I.Y. , Heckman C.J. , Penedo F.J. , Murphy E. , Virtue S.M. .
Source: British Journal Of Health Psychology, 2019 05; 24(2), p. 396-418.
EPub date: 2019-03-10 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 30852854
Related Citations

Interpersonal processes and intimacy among men with localized prostate cancer and their partners.
Authors: Manne S. , Kashy D.A. , Zaider T. , Lee D. , Kim I.Y. , Heckman C. , Penedo F. , Kissane D. , Virtue S.M. .
Source: Journal Of Family Psychology : Jfp : Journal Of The Division Of Family Psychology Of The American Psychological Association (division 43), 2018-05-17 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2018-05-17 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 29771551
Related Citations

Correspondence of physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption among prostate cancer survivors and their spouses.
Authors: Myers Virtue S. , Manne S.L. , Kashy D. , Heckman C.J. , Zaider T. , Kissane D.W. , Kim I. , Lee D. , Olekson G. .
Source: European Journal Of Cancer Care, 2015 Nov; 24(6), p. 827-39.
PMID: 25807856
Related Citations

Holding back, intimacy, and psychological and relationship outcomes among couples coping with prostate cancer.
Authors: Manne S.L. , Kissane D. , Zaider T. , Kashy D. , Lee D. , Heckman C. , Virtue S.M. .
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. 708-19.
PMID: 26192132
Related Citations

Loss of masculine identity, marital affection, and sexual bother in men with localized prostate cancer.
Authors: Zaider T. , Manne S. , Nelson C. , Mulhall J. , Kissane D. .
Source: The Journal Of Sexual Medicine, 2012 Oct; 9(10), p. 2724-32.
PMID: 22989267
Related Citations

Intimacy-enhancing psychological intervention for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners: a pilot study.
Authors: Manne S.L. , Kissane D.W. , Nelson C.J. , Mulhall J.P. , Winkel G. , Zaider T. .
Source: The Journal Of Sexual Medicine, 2011 Apr; 8(4), p. 1197-209.
PMID: 21210958
Related Citations



Back to Top