Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Based Virtual Group Therapy to Improve Psychological Wellbeing in Patients With Cancer

"Live Fully With Cancer": Assessing the Impact of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Based Virtual Group Intervention for Diverse Cancer Patients

This clinical trial tests how well acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion based virtual group therapy works to improve psychological wellbeing, such as compassion, understanding, and flexibility, in patients with cancer. Receiving a cancer diagnosis, undergoing cancer treatment, and living with cancer- or treatment-related symptoms have often been found to be associated with elevated distress and decreased quality of life for individuals, even when the disease is stable or in remission. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has demonstrated considerable benefits on individuals' quality of life, psychological flexibility, and amelioration of psychological distress following a cancer diagnosis and in the face of uncertainty, loss, and challenges associated with cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess if participants perceive compassion and understanding by the provider who facilitates the virtual group intervention.

II. To assess if participation in the ACT-based group intervention is associated with increases in patients' self-reported psychological flexibility as well as amelioration in psychological and physical distress.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess if participation in the ACT-based group intervention is associated with increases in patients' self-reported mindfulness, self-compassion, meaning and purpose, and posttraumatic growth.

OUTLINE:

Patients attend acceptance and commitment virtual group therapy sessions over 1.5 hours each, once a week for 6 weeks.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 1 month.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being an adult (18 years or older)
• Being a patient of Mayo Clinic Arizona
• Having a cancer diagnosis, having treatment planning in progress, undergoing cancer-related treatment, or having completed cancer within the past 2 years (in recent survivorship
• Experiencing stress or challenges related to cancer and having treatment goals that align with the purpose of the group
• Having self reported proficiency to read/write/speak English
• Expressing interest and commitment to attend all six virtual group sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients' inability to take part in and benefit from the virtual group therapy based on clinical judgment of the psychosocial oncology team member who completes the psychosocial evaluation, which may include having active suicidal or homicidal intent, experiencing uncontrolled psychotic symptoms, having untreated personality disorder/characteristics that are likely disturbing in a group setting, and/or having moderate to severe cognitive impairments