Pilot Study of Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatment for Cancer Survivors

NCT ID: NCT06046573

Last Updated: 2024-12-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-10

Study Completion Date

2024-10-22

Brief Summary

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Negative psychological effects of cancer are common, but cancer survivors are rarely offered structured psychological treatment. Internet-delivered treatments have shown some promise, but specific treatment components have not been empirically evaluated which means that it is not clear which therapies that should be prioritized. In this factorial pilot study, 48 cancer survivors with psychiatric symptoms are enrolled in variations on a 10-week therapist-guided online psychological treatment intended to address common negative psychological long-term effects of cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of the study design and online treatment format. Key feasibility outcomes include interest in the study, patient-reported credibility of the intervention, adherence to the treatment protocol, satisfaction with the treatment, acceptability of the measurement strategy, missing data rates, adverse events, and preliminary efficacy on anxiety, depression, the fear of recurrence, and health-related quality of life.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Cancer Survivors Anxiety Depression

Keywords

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psycho-oncology randomized factorial trial Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #1

Support and information + Behavioral activation

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Behavioral activation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #2

Support and information + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #3

Support and information + Promotion of health behaviors

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Promotion of health behaviors

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #4

Support and information + Behavioral activation + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Behavioral activation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #5

Support and information + Behavioral activation + Promotion of health behaviors

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Behavioral activation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

Promotion of health behaviors

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #6

Support and information + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training + Promotion of health behaviors

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

Promotion of health behaviors

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #7

Support and information + Behavioral activation + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training + Promotion of health behaviors

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Behavioral activation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

Promotion of health behaviors

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #8

Support and information

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Support and information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Interventions

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Support and information

Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral activation

Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training

Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Promotion of health behaviors

An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Cancer survivor at least 0.5 years after main therapy. Survivor of breast cancer (n=24), testicular cancer (n=12), or thyroid cancer (n=12).
* Clinically significant anxiety or depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9 \[PHQ-9\]≥10, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 \[GAD-7\]≥8, or 9-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory \[FCRI-9\]≥16)
* At least 18 years old
* Resident of Sweden (listed and de facto)
* Sufficient technical knowledge and knowledge of the Swedish language to take part in a text-based online treatment
* Continuous access to an electronic device that can be used to access the study web platform

Exclusion Criteria

* Recurrent thoughts of suicide, as based on clinical judgement aided by the structured interview and the self-report version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) item 9
* Severe medical condition (e.g., very poor prognosis, stage IV cancer), severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severely debilitating substance use disorder, severe depression), or medical treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy) that makes the treatment unfeasible
* Other ongoing psychological treatment
* Continuous psychotropic medication not stable for the past 4 weeks, or not expected to remain stable during the treatment period
* Planned absence for more than one week of the intended treatment period
* No complete the pre-treatment assessment
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Karolinska Institutet

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Erland Axelsson

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Erland Axelsson, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Karolinska Institutet

Locations

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Karolinska Institutet

Stockholm, , Sweden

Site Status

Countries

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Sweden

References

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Winter J, Gasslander N, Rane G, Sundstrom F, Bjorkhem-Bergman L, Hedman C, Axelsson E. Proof-of-concept for a randomized factorial design strategy to build a complex online support program for cancer survivors with psychiatric symptoms: the IN-FACT-0 feasibility trial. J Cancer Surviv. 2025 Oct 25. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01905-2. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 41136825 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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2023-04056-01 #1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id