Berglund, G., Petersson, L-M., Eriksson, K.C., Wallenius, I., Roshanai, A. Nordin, K.M., . . . Häggman, M. (2007). “Between Men”: A psychosocial rehabilitation programme for men with prostate cancer. Acta Oncological, 46, 83–89.

To evaluate the effect of psychosocial rehabilitation on patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer

Patients enrolled in the “Between Men” program were randomized to one of four groups. Each intervention group met for seven sessions. The group that received physical training participated in 60-minute sessions of light physical training that included movement, fitness training, relaxation, and breathing exercises. The group that received informationattended a 60-minute session about prostate cancer, treatment, side effects, etc. The \"combination\" group participated in exercise and received information, for a total of 135 minutes. The control group received standard care. Investigators asked four research questions, including whether physical training reduces depression among men with prostate cancer.

The sample included 158 patients who had been newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.

• Single site
• Uppsala, Sweden

Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

• Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS)
• EORTC Cancer Core Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire
• A cancer-specific multidimensional tool with subscales of functioning and symptoms

This RCT did not find any differences in depression or anxiety symptoms among participants at the preintervention, 6-month, or 12-month assessment. The group that received physical training appeared to have experienced the most improvement in symptoms of depression. This improvement occurred between baseline and 12 months, but the confidence intervals overlapped too much for the improvement to be conclusive.

• Possibly ineffective intervention diminished control over activity and information in the control group.
• Of all participants, 20% dropped out after 12 months.
• The sample lacked heterogeneity among participants, and the size of each group was small; therefore, the study has limited generalizability.