Date: February 13, 1996

Contacts:

Cindy Yeast or Jan Peterson
(202) 336-5898
American Psychological Association

Terri Hernandez or Sunu Sukumaran
(310) 274-8787, ext. 103
Pacific Visions Communications

Susan Leahy
(617) 832-4823
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Breast Cancer Study to Assess New Treatment Approach Integrating Mental and Physical Care

Unique Provider/Insurer Collaboration Focuses on Quality and Costs Boston, MA, February 13, 1996 -- The American Psychological Association (APA) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts announced today that they are collaboratingon a landmark study to assess the benefits of integrating psychological services into medical treatment plans for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

At a joint press conference held in Boston, APA and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts officials said the study signaled a move beyond just treating the psychological effects of breast cancer to pro-actively fighting the disease with a balanced mind/body approach.

In addition to improved psychological well-being, the study is expected to reveal a correlation between psychological treatment and improved physical health outcomes, as well as a possible link to enhanced immunological functioning, according to Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., the APA's executive director for professional practice.

'Psychological treatment needs to be included early in patient care-- not tacked on as an after thought,' Dr. Newman said. 'By incorporating psychological services into the plan, we can expect to see healthier behaviors, improved health outcomes and a reduction in overall health costs. We expect his study to clearly demonstrate the positive effects of an integrated treatment plan on the progression of the disease, as well as the improved psychological well-being of the patient.' Dr. Newman added that actuarial data indicate a $5 savings in health care costs for every dollar spent on psychological services.

The study will assess immunological functioning, as well as long-term analysis of cancer recurrence and mortality. Improved health outcomes in these areas could provide specific scientific support for the inclusion of psychological services in an integrated health care delivery system.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts was selected as APA's partner in the study based on the insurer's ongoing initiative in women's health care and Massachusetts' history as a bellwether state in health care policies. The company's long commitment to health care that addresses mental health issues and its interest in improved patient outcomes were also factors in APA's selection process.

'The recognized stature of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts among Blue Cross companies and other insurance providers underscores the importance of this study and the impact it will have on health care delivery for women with breast cancer, ' Dr. Newman said.

Two factors played a significant role in the development of the study. First, the widespread incidence of breast cancer in women provides a large sample population and, second, women are more likely to take advantage of psychological services than men. ' Within the present decade, more than 1.5 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer,' said Nancy Langman-Dorwart, director of mental health for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. 'Given women's positive approach to psychological services, we expect the study to yield clear and valid results. We also hope there will be a much broader impact -- that providers and primary care physicians will recognize the value of integrated health services and address psychological issues in the early stages of treatment planning.'

In cooperation with the Linda Pollin Institute at the Harvard University School of Medicine, screening for 120 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer will begin within the next two months, with initial group psychological intervention scheduled to begin around June 1. Some preliminary results will be available this year, but the study will require two years for completion.

Patients will participate in a 16-week intervention program conducted by licensed psychologists and other providers specially trained by the APA for the study. Providers will be chosen from a pool identified by Blue Cross/BlueShield of Massachusetts, and all participants will be Blue Cross patients. A control group will receive support services according to the existing standard of care with opportunities for referral to mental health care providers, but no integration with medical treatment.

Results of the breast cancer study will be included in the APA's public education campaign that will focus on the value of psychological intervention in health care. Also participating in the announcement of the study are Richard Cornell, M.D., chief medical officer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Janet Clifford, M.P.H., director of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Women's Health Initiative; and Jan Platner, member of the Board of Directors of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and executive director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. Through its divisions in 51 sub-fields of psychology and affiliations with 57 state and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the region's largest health services company, providing a full range of managed care and traditional benefits, products and services to business organizations and individual customers, to health care providers and to federal, state and local governments.