Pilot Study of Guided and Group Emotion Regulation Support for Adults Living with Chronic Cancer

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating two types of emotion regulation interventions designed to support adults living with chronic cancer, recently diagnosed within the past 12 months. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and tolerability of these interventions, as well as their preliminary effects on psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, worry, and fear of cancer recurrence. The study is led by the Universit Libre de Bruxelles and focuses on patients with various metastatic cancers and symptomatic multiple myeloma. The study includes two intervention groups. The first group receives a Guided Self-Help intervention involving eight weekly self-administered modules with breathing, relaxation, hypnosis, and positive psychology techniques, supported by weekly 15-minute psychologist calls. The second group receives the same content but delivered in eight weekly 2-hour group sessions via videoconference, alongside access to podcasts and home exercises for additional peer and therapist support. Each group consists of 5 patients, and the second group begins enrollment after the first completes their assessments. Participants are assessed before the intervention, weekly during the 12-week intervention with ecological momentary assessments of emotions, and 15 weeks after starting. Assessments include psychological symptom questionnaires and satisfaction surveys. Researchers track recruitment, retention, adherence to sessions and exercises, data completeness, participant satisfaction, emotional impact, and dropout rates. A semi-structured interview gathers qualitative feedback on intervention tolerability and acceptability. The total study duration per participant is about 15 weeks.

e-Motion : Promoting Emotion Regulation in Chronic Cancer