Phone therapy helps alleviate fatigue and enhances the quality of life for individuals who have survived breast cancer.
A study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals the effectiveness of telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing the impact of fatigue on daily functioning and improving the quality of life for individuals who have experienced metastatic breast cancer. ACT is a behavioral intervention that has proven effective in experimental studies involving advanced cancer stages. The goal of ACT is not to reduce symptoms but to develop psychological flexibility, which consists of mindfulness/acceptance processes and responsibility/behavior change.
Researchers also found that the remote ACT intervention demonstrated feasibility and promise in alleviating sleep disturbances that hinder patients' normal functioning. Cancer-related fatigue is often exacerbated by the physiological consequences of insufficient sleep.
“The women I worked with during the study often reported that their sleep quality improved because they practiced mindfulness before bedtime, which allowed them to feel more at peace in their lives,” says Shelley Johns, PhD, a research associate at the Regenstrief Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, as well as a clinician-researcher at the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The ACT intervention helped participants fall asleep more easily. Researchers are confident that the sleep quality of some participants improved due to their mindfulness practices, which have been shown to enhance sleep.
In a clinical trial, 250 individuals living with metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to six weekly telephone ACT sessions or training/support. The results of the telephone ACT intervention indicate that short remote conversations with a therapist help encourage cancer survivors to practice mindfulness in their daily lives, leading to reduced fatigue that impairs functioning.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. There are no effective medications for fatigue in the later stages of cancer. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has intrigued researchers as a potential behavioral intervention to help mitigate the negative impact of fatigue on functioning since it has demonstrated effectiveness for patients with chronic pain and individuals with mental health disorders.
“Mindfulness involves focused attention on the present moment, including the symptoms one may experience, thoughts and feelings, and relating to these experiences with compassion,” says Dr. Mosher, who is also involved in behavioral sciences at the Indiana University School of Science in Indianapolis. “We hypothesized that this would help interrupt more maladaptive responses to fatigue, particularly rumination about fatigue or catastrophizing, and that, through greater harmony with their bodies and awareness of what they are experiencing, individuals would be able to make choices that enhance their quality of life.”
This research aids in providing clinical assistance by demonstrating that the new telephone-based ACT intervention can reduce the impact of fatigue on the functioning of patients with metastatic breast cancer and shows promise in reducing sleep disturbances. Training in the ACT method is accessible to clinicians from various specialties. Future steps include testing this intervention in culturally diverse cancer groups and its dissemination.