Fighting the Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study on the Effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorKoo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center

About this trial

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy (MCT) in reducing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among cancer survivors.

With advances in cancer treatment, more patients are surviving cancer. However, many survivors continue to experience fear of cancer recurrence, which can affect their emotional well-being, quality of life, and ability to return to normal daily activities.

In this study, participants will receive a structured psychological intervention adapted from the ConquerFear program. This program has been modified to better fit local cultural needs.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either metacognitive therapy or relaxation therapy.

The study will compare the effects of these interventions on reducing fear of cancer recurrence, as well as their impact on emotional distress and quality of life.

The results of this study may help develop effective psychological treatments to support cancer survivors in managing fear of recurrence and improving overall well-being.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age 18 years or older.

Patients with cancer classified as stage I, II, or III according to the TNM staging system who have completed primary cancer treatment.

Ability to understand and read Chinese, with no significant cognitive impairment.

A score of 13 or higher on a validated measure of fear of cancer recurrence.

Disqualifiers

Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders.

Individuals who have difficulty communicating in Mandarin. -

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Metacognitive Therapy

    Behavioral

    A structured psychological intervention targeting maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and processes, such as worry and rumination. This intervention is adapted from the ConquerFear program and aims to reduce fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors.

  • Relaxation Therapy

    Behavioral

    A psychological intervention involving relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and muscle relaxation, aimed at reducing stress and emotional distress. This intervention is used as an active comparator to compare its effectiveness with metacognitive therapy in reducing fear of cancer recurrence.

Treatment groups

120 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Relaxation TherapyActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Fear of cancer recurrence will be assessed using a validated self-report questionnaire to evaluate the severity of fear and related psychological distress among cancer survivors.

Time frame
Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months, and 6 months follow-up

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Locations

1

Map coordinates are unavailable for these locations. Locations are shown below instead.

Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center Status unavailable 112, Taipei, TaipeiTaiwanTaiwan

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: