Hand in Hand. Psychological Support and Counseling to Breast Cancer Patients and Their Partners (HIH)

• Change in Impact of Event Scale (IES) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  IES assesses traumatic reactions to the breast cancer diagnosis. Assessed by both patients and partners
  
  
• Change in The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Assessed by both patients and partners.
  
  
• Change in The Profile of Mood States - Short Form (POMS-SF) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses mood changes. Assessed by both patients and partners
  
  

• Change in Dyadic Adjustment Scale - Revised (DAS-R) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses relationship functioning and marital satisfaction. Assesed by both patients and partners
  
  
• Change in Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  RQ provides a profile of an individual's attachment feelings and behaviour. Assessed by both patients and partners
  
  
• Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast (FACT-B) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention and 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses health-related quality of life with additional questions for women dignosed with breast cancer.
  
  
• Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - general population (FACT-GP) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention and 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses health-related quality of life. Assessed by partners
  
  
• Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention and 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses individual fellings of fatigue. Assessed by the patients
  
  
• Change in Post Traumatic Growth Inventory [ Time Frame: 2-weeks post-intervention and 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses positive changes in individuals experiencing traumatic life events. Assessed by both patients and partners
  
  
• Change in EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention and 10 months follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assesses health-related quality of life. Assessed by both patients and partners
  
  

The intervention intends to improving the patient and partners well-being, quality of life and their relationship adjustment.

The couples in the intervention group participates i six to eight couple sessions. The sessions is conducted by an experienced psychologist and takes place one to five months after the patients cancer diagnosis. The control group receives usual care.

The framework of the intervention is attachment theory and the psychologists support and advise the couples in talking candidly about their feelings regarding their new life situation with cancer. The psychologist focus on the couples ability to feel comfortable and safe in each others presence.