Spiritual Effect of Intervention on Oxytocin and its Receptor (OXTR) in Women Patients with Breast Cancer
Saeedeh Sarafraz Mehr, Mohammad Esmail Akbari, Abolfazl Movafagh, Majid Pornour, Shahram Vaziri, Hossein Pourtoloei, Mohammad Reza Pourtoloei, Hajar Vaseghi, Farah Lotfi Kashana
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ABSTRACT
Background: The immune system
plays an effective role in improving the quality of life of many patients with
malignant diseases such as cancer. Oxytocin has recently been recognized to
play an important role in promoting the immunity. Oxytocin is effective in
homeostasis through various ways, including spiritual intervention.
Aim: To evaluate the
effectiveness of spiritual intervention on oxytocin level and its receptor
(OXTR) in improving the function of immune system in women with breast cancer.
Methods: This study was a
quasi-experimental study a performed from October to December 2018. Fifteen
patients were selected by targeted sampling, and then randomly assigned to the
following groups. The first group had 12 sessions of spiritual intervention,
the second group had 12 sessions of non-psychological training that focused on
physical care related to their illness, and third group did not receive any
intervention as control group..
Results: The results showed that oxytocin and
its receptor were 100 times higher in the patients with breast cancer compared
to healthy controls. The changes in the three groups at the follow-up stage
were not significant compared to the pre-test and post-test, indicating no
effect of spiritual intervention and group training compared to the control
group. In addition, OXTR levels did not show any difference between the groups.
Conclusion: Despite numerous studies on the effect
of psychological interventions such as spiritual intervention and oxytocin on
the immune system, it is suggested to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual
intervention in patients with breast cancer in pathways other than oxytocin and
OXTR.
Keywords: Spiritual Intervention, Oxytocin, Oxytocin
Receptor, Immune System, Breast Cancer
ABSTRACT
Background: The immune system
plays an effective role in improving the quality of life of many patients with
malignant diseases such as cancer. Oxytocin has recently been recognized to
play an important role in promoting the immunity. Oxytocin is effective in
homeostasis through various ways, including spiritual intervention.
Aim: To evaluate the
effectiveness of spiritual intervention on oxytocin level and its receptor
(OXTR) in improving the function of immune system in women with breast cancer.
Methods: This study was a
quasi-experimental study a performed from October to December 2018. Fifteen
patients were selected by targeted sampling, and then randomly assigned to the
following groups. The first group had 12 sessions of spiritual intervention,
the second group had 12 sessions of non-psychological training that focused on
physical care related to their illness, and third group did not receive any
intervention as control group..
Results: The results showed that oxytocin and
its receptor were 100 times higher in the patients with breast cancer compared
to healthy controls. The changes in the three groups at the follow-up stage
were not significant compared to the pre-test and post-test, indicating no
effect of spiritual intervention and group training compared to the control
group. In addition, OXTR levels did not show any difference between the groups.
Conclusion: Despite numerous studies on the effect
of psychological interventions such as spiritual intervention and oxytocin on
the immune system, it is suggested to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual
intervention in patients with breast cancer in pathways other than oxytocin and
OXTR.
Keywords: Spiritual Intervention, Oxytocin, Oxytocin
Receptor, Immune System, Breast Cancer