Telephone Therapy May Reduce Fatigue, Improve Mood and Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors: Study - Video

A study demonstrates the effectiveness of telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in reducing fatigue's interference with functioning and improving the quality of life for survivors of metastatic breast cancer. The findings are published in journal of clinical oncology.

Researchers also found that the remote acceptance and commitment therapy intervention has shown evidence of feasibility and promise in reducing sleep interference with functioning of the patients.

Cancer-related fatigue is often exacerbated by the physiological consequences of inadequate sleep.

During the clinical trial, 250 survivors living with metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to six weekly telephone sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy or education/support. The results of the telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy intervention suggest that brief remote conversations with a therapist help encourage the survivors to practice mindfulness in their daily lives, which leads to reduced fatigue interference with functioning.

This study informs clinical care by demonstrating that a novel, telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy intervention can reduce fatigue interference with functioning in patients with metastatic breast cancer and shows promise in reducing sleep interference. Training in acceptance and commitment therapy is accessible to clinicians from various disciplines. Next steps include testing the intervention in culturally diverse cancer populations and disseminating the intervention.

“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women throughout the world. We don't have effective medications for fatigue in advanced cancer,” said Regenstrief Institute Affiliate Scientist and first author Catherine Mosher, PhD. “I was drawn to acceptance and commitment therapy as a potential behavioral intervention to help reduce the negative impact of fatigue on functioning because it has shown evidence of effectiveness for patients with chronic pain as well as people with mental health conditions.

Reference: Catherine E. Mosher et al., Randomized Controlled Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Fatigue Interference With Functioning in Metastatic Breast Cancer. JCO 0, JCO.24.00965, DOI:10.1200/JCO.24.00965