The Effects of Psychological Focus Group Therapy on the Quality of Life of Female Patients with Acromegaly

Objective: Chronic diseases such as acromegaly affect psychological health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 1-year-long psychological focus group therapy on the quality of life of patients with acromegaly. Material and Methods: Seven female patients with acromegaly, followed-up at the endocrinology outpatient clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, were evaluated. The weekly group psychotherapy sessions were conducted by a psychoanalyst and a clinical psychologist between May 2018 and May 2019. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Acromegaly Quality of Life (AcroQoL) scales were assessed at baseline, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year of group therapy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.7 +/- 6.2years, and the median duration of disease was 8 [3-10] years. Six patients were in disease remission. There was a significant improvement in the BDI (p=0.008) and AcroQoL-total scores (p=0.04) from the beginning till the end of the study. A strong negative correlation was observed between BDI and AcroQoL-2 (p=0.003; r=-0.91 vs. p=0.04; r=-0.77) and AcroQoL-t(o)tal (p=0.03; r=-0.78 vs. p=0.01; r=-0.85) scores at baseline and the 3-months of therapy, respectively. Moreover, the psychoanalyst reported that the patients showed an improved ability to face difficulties caused by their illnesses, expressed their emotional reactions more freely, and were more capable of enduring the disease. Conclusion: Patients with acromegaly benefited from the 1-year psychological focus group therapy in terms of psychological well-being, along with improved AcroQoL and BDI scores. Psychotherapeutic approaches, starting with the diagnosis of the disease, might be a significant intervention that improves the quality of life of patients with acromegaly.