| The purpose of this research was to study the effects of imagery and active spousal support on blood counts in women with diagnosed premenopausal breast cancer who had followed a standard course of treatment. For each participating couple a 15-day protocol was followed. In the initial session a baseline blood draw preceded a fifteen-minute immune system videotaped presentation (Bioimagery, 1993). In the two succeeding weeks pre- and post-treatment blood samples were obtained. The subjects utilized guided immunoimagery, alone and with their spouse, to ascertain whether imaging with a partner affects the desired increments in the assayed numerosities following imagery. For thirty minutes after each imagery session, prior to venipuncture, the woman or couple was asked to draw the cancer and their corresponding immunoimages. The pictorial accounts were assessed relative to the patient's and spouse's attitudes about the virulence of the cancer, and the power of the patient's immune system. The drawings were rated according to the IMAGE-CA developed by Achterberg and Lawlis (1984); the relative strength and vividness of the depicted cancer cells and immune system cells were related to blood count changes for white blood cells, absolute lymphocytes, total T-cells, helper/inducer T-cells, suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells, and segmented neutrophils. The couples' satisfaction and adjustment within the marital relationship (DAS scores/Spanier, 1976) was an intervening variable for both the solitary and conjoint imagery and the subsequent blood assays.;The uniform decreases in lymphocyte counts following imagery measured in this investigation (although generally within measurement error) are consistent with results in the few published studies evaluating short term blood cell changes following behavioral treatment. Clearly, a longer term study is indicated.;In only 8 of 72 instances did blood counts increase by more than 10% over the course of an imagery session; in slightly more than half the cases blood counts decreased by more than 10%. There was no significant two-week learning effect nor was there statistical support for the notion that conjoint imagery has an incrementing effect on blood count numerosity over a two-week time span. For all of the blood measures except segmented neutrophils, the probability that blood counts will stay the same or increase following the guided imagery was inversely related to the IMAGE-CA Score. There was no relationship between marital satisfaction and adjustment and changes in blood counts. |
