LiveWell mBc: Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training

LiveWell mBC: Pilot Test of an Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training Program in Groups of Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer

In this pilot randomized controlled trial, women with metastatic breast cancer and at least mild distress (N=48) will be randomized to receive LiveWell mBC, a group-based adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training protocol, or Usual Care. The investigators will evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of LiveWell to reduce distress (primary outcome) and improve psychological well-being, symptom burden, and quality of life (secondary outcomes).

Participants will be randomized 2:1 to receive LiveWell mBC, an adapted DBT Skills Training intervention delivered to small groups of women with mBC via telehealth, or usual care. LiveWell mBC involves orientation + an 8-session skills training protocol of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.

Participants will complete self-report measures at baseline, mid-intervention (Week 5), post-intervention (Week 11) and 1 month post-intervention (Week 15). It is hypothesized that: 1) RCT methods will demonstrate evidence of feasibility (>70% overall retention rate, >70% LiveWell mBC completion rate); 2) RCT methods will demonstrated evidence of acceptability (>50% enrollment rate, >80% participant satisfaction); and 3) LiveWell participants will demonstrate reductions in distress (primary outcome) compared to Usual Care at 11-week follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. identify as female
2. be diagnosed with metastatic (AJCC stage IV) breast cancer
3. be receiving care for metastatic breast cancer at Hollings Cancer Center
4. endorse >3 out of 10 on the NCCN distress thermometer over the past week plus at least one emotional concern on the problem checklist
5. be > 18 years of age
6. be able to understand, speak, and read English
7. be able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. reported or suspected cognitive impairment
2. presence of untreated serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia) indicated by the medical chart or treating oncologist
3. expected survival <6 months, as indicated by a hospice referral