Cognitive-behavioral stress management program alleviates anxiety and depression in parents of adolescent patients with osteosarcoma

Cognitive-behavioral stress management program (CSMP) can alleviate anxiety and depression, while its effect on parents of adolescent patients with osteosarcoma remains unclear. This study purposes to investigate the influence of CSMP on anxiety and depression in these parents. Totally, 31 parents of adolescent patients with osteosarcoma were enrolled to receive CSMP. Parents were followed up at baseline (week 0, W0), 4 weeks (W4, visit window ± 1 weeks) and 10 weeks (W10, visit window ± 2 weeks). Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were assessed, and the improvement of anxiety or depression was defined as a more than 5-point decline in SAS or SDS from W0 to W10. During CSMP, there were 10 (32.3%) parents who received anxiolytics or antidepressants. SAS and SDS scores decreased gradually from W0 to W10 (both <i>p</i> < 0.001). The mean SAS and SDS decline points from W0 to W10 were 4.5 ± 3.7 and 3.1 ± 2.6, respectively. There were 13 (41.9%) parents achieving the improvement of anxiety and 10 parents (32.3%) achieving the improvement of depression. Higher educational degree (<i>p</i> = 0.021) and anxiolytics or antidepressant administration during CSMP (<i>p</i> = 0.029) were associated with the improvement of anxiety. Married parents tended to be linked with the improvement of depression (<i>p</i> = 0.050). Overall, CSMP effectively reduces anxiety and depression in parents of adolescent patients with osteosarcoma, whose effects are better for those with a higher educational degree and anxiolytics or antidepressant administration during CSMP. However, further randomized, controlled studies with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period are required.