Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Support of Psychological Distress in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm; Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Treatments: Other: Interview; Other: Best Practice; Other: Discussion; Other: Communication Intervention; Other: Health Promotion and Education; Behavioral: Behavioral Intervention; Other: Questionnaire Administration

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06941324

NCI-2025-01196 (Registry Identifier)

HUM00254795 (Other Identifier)

UMCC 2024.086

Details and patient eligibility

About

This clinical trial evaluates the how well a virtually delivered solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT-C) works to decrease adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' psychological distress in comparison to enhanced treatment-as-usual care. Cancer and its treatment can have immediate and long-term impacts on adolescent and young adult cancer survivor's lives, including education and employment, financial stability, sexual health, and social, romantic, and family relationships. Consequently, many adolescent and young adult cancer survivors report psychological distress, often manifesting as depression and anxiety, and may benefit from psychotherapy to improve their engagement with medical treatment and overall quality of life. SFBT-C is a theory-driven and brief hope-based psychotherapy designed for the unique psychosocial needs facing adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Undergoing SFBT-C may work better than treatment-as-usual care for the support of psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 39 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 15 - 39 years old
• Diagnosed with cancer
• Receiving active cancer care (6 weeks post initial diagnosis to control for emotional responses to normative stressors) or within 5 years of post-treatment survivorship
• Experiencing psychological distress (i.e., a t-score >= 57 on the Brief Symptom Inventory - 18 items [BSI-18])
• Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• End-of-life care
• > 5 years into the post-treatment survivorship
• Major physical challenges (e.g., hearing loss, developmental delay)
• Acute mental health conditions (e.g., active psychosis, suicide risk)
• Receiving or newly initiated psychotherapy for psychological distress during the study period

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Supportive Care (eTAU)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients receive eTAU and receive an educational book to address emotional challenges associated with cancer and strategies and resources to address these challenges over 4-8 weeks on study. Additionally, patients receive check in calls from clinicians QW to answer any questions patients may have about the book.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaire Administration

Other: Health Promotion and Education

Other: Communication Intervention

Other: Best Practice

Other: Health Promotion and Education

Supportive Care (SFBT-C)

Experimental group

Description:

Patients undergo virtual SFBT sessions over 30 minutes each QW over 4-8 weeks on study. Patients also receive an educational manual and participate in discussions after each session on study.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaire Administration

Behavioral: Behavioral Intervention

Other: Health Promotion and Education

Other: Discussion

Other: Interview

Other: Health Promotion and Education