Objective: Cancer patients often experience significant psychological distress, including anxiety and depression. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has emerged as a promising approach to alleviate these symptoms in cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate feasibility and effectiveness of the internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (iACT) intervention for anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
Method: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, adult cancer patients meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the iACT group or a wait-list control (WLC) group at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention consisted of eight units: (1) Understanding cancer symptoms and ACT; (2) Refusing avoidance; (3) Accepting distress; (4) Living in the present moment; (5) Being a psychological observer of yourself; (6) Seeking meaningful values; (7) Committing to taking action; and (8) Reflecting on the intervention. Each unit lasted approximately 30 minutes, with the entire intervention spanning 2 weeks. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Distress Thermometer (DT), and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), administered before, during, and after the intervention.
Results: Sixty patients were enrolled, with 30 patients randomly assigned to each of the iACT group and WLC group. The study retention rate was 70%, with the intervention completion rate of 63%. After the 2-week intervention, significant reduction in depression (d = -0.51), anxiety (d = -1.06), and psychological distress (d = -1.34) were observed in the iACT group compared to the WLC group. The intervention group reported moderate satisfaction with the intervention (M = 22.52).
Conclusion: This internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy was shown to be feasible and acceptable for cancer patients, demonstrating potential in alleviating anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among cancer patients. Further research is warranted to substantiate these findings and explore long-term effects.