Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Anxious Cancer Survivors

University of Colorado Boulder (CU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Usual Care; Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02550925

RSG-15-020-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized clinical trial compares group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to usual care for cancer survivors experiencing anxiety following the end of cancer treatment.

Enrollment: 139 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 95 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults in the Greater Boulder/ Denver, Colorado area who had cancer and completed primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation) within the previous 18 months
2. For solid tumor cancers: Show no current evidence of disease for solid-tumor cancers (of any cancer type or initial stage). For lymphoproliferative disorders such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: In remission or asymptomatic after initial treatment and are followed with active surveillance.
3. Screen positive for anxiety symptoms on the study screener
4. Able to speak, read, and write English fluently
5. Willing and able to participate in an ACT group once a week for 7 weeks
6. Willing and able to complete online questionnaires and phone interviews at designated assessment points

Exclusion criteria

1. Current moderate to high suicide risk
2. History of chronic untreated trauma (unrelated to their cancer)
3. Psychiatric hospitalization or suicide attempt in the past 5 years

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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139 participants in 2 patient groups

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Group

Usual Care

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual Care