The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a major public health challenge in Ethiopia, with women often experiencing significant levels of anxiety and depression that adversely affect their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been recognized as a promising approach to address these psychological burdens. This study explored the effectiveness of CBT in reducing anxiety and depression among women with breast cancer at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa. A randomized controlled trial design was employed, comparing an intervention group that received CBT with a control group that received standard care. Baseline measures of anxiety and depression were collected, and post-intervention outcomes were analyzed using standardized instruments. The findings revealed that CBT led to a significant reduction in both anxiety and depression symptoms compared to standard care. Women in the intervention group showed greater improvement, with a mean reduction of -6.8 in depression scores versus -3.9 in the control group, and a decrease in anxiety scores of -4.3 compared to -2.8. The odds of high post-intervention anxiety were reduced by 52%, and depression was lowered by 8% in the intervention group, underscoring the cross-cultural applicability and effectiveness of CBT. These results highlight the feasibility and acceptability of integrating structured, culturally adapted CBT into oncology care in Ethiopia. The study recommends the inclusion of CBT as part of routine cancer treatment, supported by capacity building, policy integration, and further research to evaluate long-term outcomes and scalability in low-resource settings. Keywords: Breast cancer, anxiety, depression, cognitive behavioral therapy, randomized control design, Ethiopia
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Breast cancer, anxiety, depression, cognitive behavioral therapy, randomized control design, Ethiopia