Affect-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy for mothers diagnosed with cancer - A feasibility study

Parents with cancer face elevated psychological distress, often exacerbated by parenting responsibilities. Affect-Focused Psychodynamic Therapy (AFPT) has shown efficacy in improving emotion regulation, psychological well-being and self-compassion, but its feasibility and preliminary effect in this population remains unexplored.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety, of AFPT delivered via videoconferencing for parents with cancer.

The intervention consisted of 10 sessions of AFPT, specifically affect phobia therapy. Qualitative data were collected through post-intervention interviews and analysed using inductive content analysis. Quantitative data were collected through self-report questionnaires at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6-month follow-up measuring symptoms of depression and anxiety (primary outcome), parenting concerns, emotion regulation, self-efficacy, adaptive affective functioning, closeness in the family and self-rated health. Quantitative data were analysed using dependent-samples t-tests, with Cohen's d for effect sizes, and McNemar tests.

Fifteen mothers with cancer participated in the study. Results demonstrated efficient recruitment, acceptable study procedures, complete retention, and a relevant and beneficial intervention rated 8.4/10 in helpfulness. Moreover, findings showed significant reductions in symptoms of depression (Cohen's d = 1.29) and of anxiety (Cohen's d = 1.06) from pre- to post-intervention, maintained at 6-month follow-up, together with improvements in a majority of the secondary outcomes.

Videoconferencing AFPT appears feasible, acceptable, and safe to use for mothers with cancer, with promising preliminary effects in reducing psychological distress. These findings support further evaluation of the intervention to determine its efficacy in this population using a randomized controlled trial.