Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Cancer Survivors

Overseen By Cancer AnswerLine

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: End-of-life care, Major physical challenges, Acute mental health conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 4-8 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on therapy for psychological distress, so it's best to discuss your medications with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for cancer survivors?

Research shows that Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is beneficial for improving psychological well-being, such as reducing depression and stress in patients with breast cancer, and it emphasizes building on patients' strengths to achieve positive change. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy safe for humans?

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is generally considered safe for humans, as it is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on clients' strengths and goals. It has been used in various settings, including mental health care and with cancer patients, without reports of harm. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

How is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy different from other treatments for cancer survivors?

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is unique because it focuses on the strengths and resources of cancer survivors to help them achieve positive changes, rather than concentrating on their problems. This approach is different from traditional therapies that often focus on analyzing and solving problems. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial evaluates the how well a virtually delivered solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT-C) works to decrease adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' psychological distress in comparison to enhanced treatment-as-usual care. Cancer and its treatment can have immediate and long-term impacts on adolescent and young adult cancer survivor's lives, including education and employment, financial stability, sexual health, and social, romantic, and family relationships. Consequently, many adolescent and young adult cancer survivors report psychological distress, often manifesting as depression and anxiety, and may benefit from psychotherapy to improve their engagement with medical treatment and overall quality of life. SFBT-C is a theory-driven and brief hope-based psychotherapy designed for the unique psychosocial needs facing adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Undergoing SFBT-C may work better than treatment-as-usual care for the support of psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Research Team

Anao Zhang

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors experiencing psychological distress. Participants should be dealing with the long-term impacts of cancer on their lives, such as challenges in education, employment, finances, sexual health, and relationships.

Inclusion Criteria

Experiencing psychological distress (i.e., a t-score >= 57 on the Brief Symptom Inventory - 18 items [BSI-18])

Fluent in English

I am between 15 and 39 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

End-of-life care

Major physical challenges (e.g., hearing loss, developmental delay)

Acute mental health conditions (e.g., active psychosis, suicide risk)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo virtual SFBT sessions or receive eTAU over 4-8 weeks

4-8 weeks

Weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychological distress and quality of life improvements post-intervention

8 weeks

Assessments at 4 and 8 weeks post-intervention

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests a virtual solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT-C) against enhanced usual care to see if it better reduces depression and anxiety among these survivors. The SFBT-C is designed specifically for their unique needs.

Participant Groups

Group I: Supportive Care (SFBT-C) Experimental Treatment 5 Interventions

Patients undergo virtual SFBT sessions over 30 minutes each QW over 4-8 weeks on study. Patients also receive an educational manual and participate in discussions after each session on study.

Group II: Supportive Care (eTAU) Active Control 4 Interventions

Patients receive eTAU and receive an educational book to address emotional challenges associated with cancer and strategies and resources to address these challenges over 4-8 weeks on study. Additionally, patients receive check in calls from clinicians QW to answer any questions patients may have about the book.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

303

Recruited

20,700+

Children's Cancer Research Fund

Collaborator

Children's Cancer Research Fund

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

150+

Findings from Research

Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is an innovative approach in mental health care that emphasizes discussing desired changes rather than focusing on problems, making it compatible with core nursing values.

The paper provides specific strategies and techniques for implementing SFT in mental health nursing, along with a summary of current research outcomes and future prospects for its application in clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health nursing from a solution focused perspective. Wand, T.[2010]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Solution focused brief therapy in psychiatric practice]. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Solution-focused therapy and inpatient psychiatric nursing. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Solution Focused Therapy. [2020]

4. Iran pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) on Depression and Perceived Stress in Patients with Breast Cancer. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Practitioner Review: The effectiveness of solution focused brief therapy with children and families: a systematic and critical evaluation of the literature from 1990-2010. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Solution-focused brief therapy for adolescent and young adult cancer patients in China: a pilot randomized controlled trial. [2022]

7. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health nursing from a solution focused perspective. [2010]