| | In
the case study presented below, the challenge is to design an experiment
examining the efficacy of the component parts of a behavioral
intervention for the treatment of anticipatory nausea. [Note:
An experiment designed to answer this research question was conducted
in the early 1980's (Morrow, 1986)
by the author of this chapter and is described below.]
Background
Several groups of researchers
reported that anticipatory nausea was a widespread problem, was
most likely a learned or conditioned response to treatment, and
that the symptoms were refractory to standard antiemetic therapy
(Burish
et al., 1981; Morrow,
1982; Redd
et al., 1982).
A previous experiment
identified a potential treatment and key characteristic that would
encourage its use (Morrow
et al., 1982).
- The behavioral treatment
of systematic desensitization (SD) was found to be significantly
more effective in controlling anticipatory side effects
resulting from chemotherapy than a counseling intervention or
no treatment.
- The less professional
time required for a behavioral intervention, the more applicable
that intervention is for widespread clinical use in busy cancer
treatment settings.
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