Telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy improved the quality of life for metastatic breast cancer survivors, according to a study published Oct. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The therapeutic intervention was specifically helpful in reducing the rate at which fatigue interfered with patient functionality, according to a Jan. 21 news release from the Indianapolis-based Regenstrief Institute.
Here are five notes from the study:
- Up to 63% of patients living with metastatic breast cancer experience severe fatigue that affects their ability to function daily.
- In a clinical trial of 250 metastatic breast cancer survivors, researchers assigned weekly telephone sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy or education and support. Participants who received ACT reported reduced functional fatigue and improved quality of sleep.
- ACT promotes psychological flexibility through mindfulness, acceptance and commitment to behavioral change processes, as opposed to focusing on symptom reduction.
In the release, author Catherine Mosher, PhD, a professor of clinical psychology at Indiana University in Indianapolis and an affiliate scientist at Regenstrief, said ACT has been shown to be effective for patients with chronic pain and mental health conditions. - Study participants "often reported that their sleep quality had improved because they were practicing mindfulness at bedtime and that was allowing them to feel a greater sense of peace in their life," Shelley Johns, PsyD, a research scientist at Regenstrief and an associate professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, said in the release.
- Researchers next intend to study the intervention in culturally diverse cancer populations.
Read the full study here.