Randomized Controlled Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Fatigue Interference With Functioning in...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychological Interventions
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
• Limited evidence-based interventions exist for managing fatigue in advanced cancer populations.
• This study addresses the need for effective fatigue management strategies in MBC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing fatigue interference.
• To assess ACT's impact on functioning in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
• To compare ACT with an education/support intervention in a phase II randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• A phase II randomized controlled trial involving women with stage IV breast cancer and moderate to severe fatigue.
• Patients received either six weekly telephone-delivered ACT sessions or education/support.
• Outcomes included fatigue interference, mood, cognition, sleep interference, daily activity engagement, and quality of life (QOL).

Main Results:

• ACT significantly reduced fatigue interference with functioning compared to education/support (P = .018) at 2 weeks and 6 months.
• ACT patients demonstrated significantly better functional QOL at 2 weeks and 6 months postintervention (P = .006).
• While not statistically significant after adjustment, ACT showed a trend towards reduced sleep interference.

Conclusions:

• A brief, telephone-delivered ACT intervention effectively reduces fatigue interference in patients with MBC.
• ACT improves functional quality of life in this patient population.
• This intervention offers a promising, accessible approach for managing cancer-related fatigue.