Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of group psychotherapy on breast cancer patients. Methods 80 outpatients with breast cancerwho did not participate in the Rukang Salon (control group) and 100 outpatients participated (intervention group) were surveyed withquestionaire. Results The incidence of psychological distress was 36.8% in the control group and 21.1% in the intervention group ( χ2=5.02,P=0.03). In the intervention group, the efficacy of those without psychological distress (236.86±35.17) was significantly higher than thosewith psychological distress (214.21±26.52), (t=2.61, P=0.01). There were significant differences in those 5 factors: group cohesion, universality,interpersonal learning, guide instructions, and hope remodeling. Top 5 factors in scores reported were interpersonal learning, hopingremodeling, group cohesion, guide instructions, and exist consciousness. Conclusion Group psychotherapy can significantly reduce the psychologicaldistress in rehabilitating breast cancer patients. Group cohesion, universality, interpersonal learning, guide instructions, hope remodelingand exist consciousness may play important roles.

Key words: breast cancer, group psychotherapy, therapeutic factors