Evaluating Somatic Experiencing ® to Heal Cancer Trauma: First Evidence with Breast Cancer Survivors

Denise Vagnini (), Massimo Maria Grassi and Emanuela Saita
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Denise Vagnini: Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
Massimo Maria Grassi: Breast Unit, Humanitas Gavazzeni Clinical Institute, 24125 Bergamo, Italy
Emanuela Saita: Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Somatic Experiencing ® is a bio-psychological method for the treatment and prevention of trauma and chronic stress, which has never been investigated with breast cancer (BC) survivors. Eight weeks of web-based synchronous group sessions were structured between April and June 2022. Potential participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach and through the collaboration of a public hospital in northern Italy and a non-profit association of BC women. Thirty-five eligible participants were enrolled and divided into an intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 14). Anxiety, depression, distress (HADS), coping strategies (Mini-MAC), trauma reworking skills (PACT), and body image (BIS) were assessed at T0 and after 8 weeks (T1). Qualitative items concerning the most significant moments and learnings were completed at T1 by the intervention group. An independent t -test confirmed no between-group psychological differences at T0. As hypothesized, paired-sample t -tests showed decreases in anxiety, depression, distress ( p < 0.05), and anxious preoccupation coping strategy ( p < 0.001), but also improvements in forward focus ( p < 0.05) and body image ( p < 0.001) in the intervention group. The controls worsened over time with increases in hopeless/helplessness ( p < 0.001) and avoidance ( p < 0.05) coping strategies. Textual analyses extracted five dominant themes that summarized the meaning of the experience for participants. The preliminary results suggest the effectiveness of the intervention.

Keywords: breast cancer; Somatic Experiencing; mind-body; group intervention; e-health; trauma; anxiety; depression; body image; coping strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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