Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention and physical activity on medical and psychological variables in patients treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of a cognitive behavioral intervention and a physical activity program on psychological and medical variables in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Method: The design used was N = 1 with historical control group, participants were 14 adults. The intervention consisted in psicoeducation and passive progressive muscle relaxation training prior to hospitalization, and a program of physical activity during the hospital stay. Psychological variables were measured trough the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in four different moments: baseline assessment, hospital admission, hospital discharge, and first follow-up consultation. The Distress Thermometer (DT) was also used in the baseline assessment and every day during hospitalization. On the other hand, the historical control group consisted of 21 patients treated in the same unit. We compared: number of interconsultations to psychiatry, drug requirement and number of days in hospitalization.

Results: The differences observed were: in the intervention group, the number of patients requiring a psychiatric consultation was lower, the patients who were referred to psychiatry required less interconsultations, and hospital stay was shorter compared with control group.

Conclusions: It was concluded that the intervention allowed maintain psychological stability of patients and minor psychiatric and pharmacological comorbidity facilitates monitoring and reduce hospitalization costs and reduced psychosocial distress in the patient.