Feasibility of a virtual Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) protocol for the emotional consequences of...

Distress management guidelines emphasize the importance of addressing psychological symptoms in cancer patients. Mental health interventions that are time-bound are more easily integrated into oncology care. We tested the feasibility of a time-bound Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) protocol for anxiety, depression, and psychological flexibility in cancer patients.

Breast, prostate, stage III/IV colorectal cancer, or leukemia patients who scored ≥5 on the PHQ-9 and/or GAD-7 were included. The intervention group completed three virtual FACT sessions; controls received written FACT exercises and phone check-ins. All received a one-month follow-up call.

Twenty-seven participants completed follow-up (intervention n = 10; control n = 17). Feasibility was mixed: 57.1% of prescreened patients met screening eligibility (64/112), but overall conversion from initially interested patients was 27.8% (64/230). Per Red-Amber-Green criteria, enrollment was 100% (64/64; green/go) and retention was 42.2% (27/64; red/major redesign). Acceptability was high across groups.

Initial recruitment was strong and clinical need was clear. Low retention highlights a need to improve procedures to support engagement among a high-burden population. Because ease of access is critical, we will apply lessons learned to refine the protocol.