Qing LIU, Wenli WANG, Litang SHI, Piaopiao WAN, Xiaoli HU
Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology - 2026;36(2):167-175
Background: To assess the effectiveness and long-term impact of internet-based psychological interventions on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in breast cancer (BC) patients. Methods: Data were collected from 150 BC patients treated at the Third Hospital of Nanchang. Patients were assigned to either the research group (n = 71), receiving internet-based therapies, or the control group (n = 79), undergoing traditional psychological interventions. Psychological parameters were assessed using validated scales, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Fear of Disease Progression Questionnaire - Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Cancer Treatment Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Results: The research group showed significantly lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety (HADS-A), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression (HADS-D), and FoP-Q-SF scores than the control group at 1 month post intervention (T1) (P < .05). At 3 months (T2) and 6 months (T3) post-intervention, the research group had higher CD-RISC scores and lower HADS-A, HADS-D, and FoP-Q-SF scores compared to the control group (P < .05). Within-group comparisons revealed that PFS scores increased at T1, while FoP-Q-SF scores decreased and EORTC-QLQ-C30 scores improved significantly at T2 (P < .05). By T3, PFS and FoP-Q-SF scores were significantly reduced compared to T0 (P < .05). Conclusion: Internet-based psychological treatments demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression among BC patients compared to conventional interventions, with sustained effects observed over 6 months. These findings underscore the potential of online psychological therapies as a viable intervention for improving mental health outcomes in BC patients.
