AzTrials
AzTrials

Cancer SurvivorsIN-FACT-0NCT06046573

Pilot Study of Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatment for Cancer Survivors

A study testing Support and information, Behavioral activation and Systematic exposure with mindfulness training in people with Cancer Survivors and Anxiety, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Negative psychological effects of cancer are common, but cancer survivors are rarely offered structured psychological treatment. Internet-delivered treatments have shown some promise, but specific treatment components have not been empirically evaluated which means that it is not clear which therapies that should be… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Cancer Survivors, Anxiety, Depression
What is being tested?
Support and information, Behavioral activation and Systematic exposure with mindfulness training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteSweden
Study dates
10 Mar 2024to 22 Oct 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Cancer survivor at least 0.5 years after main therapy. Survivor of breast cancer (n=24), testicular cancer (n=12), or thyroid cancer (n=12).
  • Clinically significant anxiety or depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9 [PHQ-9]≥10, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 [GAD-7]≥8, or 9-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory [FCRI-9]≥16)
  • At least 18 years old
  • Resident of Sweden (listed and de facto)
  • Sufficient technical knowledge and knowledge of the Swedish language to take part in a text-based online treatment
  • Continuous access to an electronic device that can be used to access the study web platform

Who cannot join

  • Recurrent thoughts of suicide, as based on clinical judgement aided by the structured interview and the self-report version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) item 9
  • Severe medical condition (e.g., very poor prognosis, stage IV cancer), severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severely debilitating substance use disorder, severe depression), or medical treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy) that makes the treatment unfeasible
  • Other ongoing psychological treatment
  • Continuous psychotropic medication not stable for the past 4 weeks, or not expected to remain stable during the treatment period
  • Planned absence for more than one week of the intended treatment period
  • No complete the pre-treatment assessment

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Sweden1 site
  • Karolinska Institutet

    Stockholm

Other trials in Sweden

About this study

Official title: Pilot Study of Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatment for Cancer Survivors With Clinically Significant Psychiatric Symptoms

Negative psychological effects of cancer are common, but cancer survivors are rarely offered structured psychological treatment. Internet-delivered treatments have shown some promise, but specific treatment components have not been empirically evaluated which means that it is not clear which therapies that should be prioritized. In this factorial pilot study, 48 cancer survivors with psychiatric symptoms are enrolled in variations on a 10-week therapist-guided online psychological treatment intended to address common negative psychological long-term effects of cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of the study design and online treatment format. Key feasibility outcomes include interest in the study, patient-reported credibility of the intervention, adherence to the treatment protocol, satisfaction with the treatment, acceptability of the measurement strategy, missing data rates, adverse events, and preliminary efficacy on anxiety, depression, the fear of recurrence, and health-related quality of life.

Being tested
Support and information, Behavioral activation, Systematic exposure with mindfulness training, Promotion of health behaviors
Keywords
psycho-oncology, randomized factorial trial, Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy
Medical subject headings
Anxiety Disorders, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Support and informationBehavioural

    Emotional and technical support. Information about the long-term effects of cancer.

  • Behavioral activationBehavioural

    Behavioral activation with existential themes and emphasis on values and relationships.

  • Systematic exposure with mindfulness trainingBehavioural

    Systematic exposure with mindfulness training with a focus on anxiety about health and/or death, body image, and cancer-related trauma.

  • Promotion of health behaviorsBehavioural

    An overview of self-management techniques in terms of physical exercise, dietary advice, and strategies for improved sleep.

Study groups in NCT06046573
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #1ExperimentalSupport and information + Behavioral activation
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Behavioral activation
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #2ExperimentalSupport and information + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Systematic exposure with mindfulness training
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #3ExperimentalSupport and information + Promotion of health behaviors
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Promotion of health behaviors
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #4ExperimentalSupport and information + Behavioral activation + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Behavioral activation; Behavioral: Systematic exposure with mindfulness training
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #5ExperimentalSupport and information + Behavioral activation + Promotion of health behaviors
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Behavioral activation; Behavioral: Promotion of health behaviors
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #6ExperimentalSupport and information + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training + Promotion of health behaviors
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Systematic exposure with mindfulness training; Behavioral: Promotion of health behaviors
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #7ExperimentalSupport and information + Behavioral activation + Systematic exposure with mindfulness training + Promotion of health behaviors
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information; Behavioral: Behavioral activation; Behavioral: Systematic exposure with mindfulness training; Behavioral: Promotion of health behaviors
Internet-delivered psychological treatment, arm #8ExperimentalSupport and information
Receives: Behavioral: Support and information

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility 1: Feasibility of the randomized factorial design

    A key feasibility outcome of this pilot study is the overall experience of study administrators and therapists tasked with the assignment and delivery of treatment variants in accordance with the randomized factorial design. After the main phase, all study administrators and therapists will be asked to rate the feasibility of the planned study design from 0 ("not feasible at all") to 10 ("fully feasible"), which will reported as a mean (SD) and median.

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

  2. Feasibility 2: Credibility of the treatment as perceived by patients

    Credibility/Expectancy scale (C/E scale). Theoretical range: 0-50, where a higher score indicates higher credibility/expectancy.

    Measured: Week 2 of treatment

  3. Feasibility 3: Adherence to the treatment protocol #1

    Number of modules initiated, as registered by the clinician.

    Measured: Over the 10-week treatment period, with registration at the post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment).

  4. Feasibility 4: Adherence to the treatment protocol #2

    Number of completed exercises, as based on a short weekly questionnaire tailored to suit each treatment arm, with corresponding questions about the number of days devoted to exposure exercises, days devoted to activity planning, and days devoted to the promotion of health behaviors.

    Measured: Each week from the beginning of treatment to the post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

  5. Feasibility 5: Acceptability of the online measurement strategy #1

    Number of measurements completed at each measurement point after the pre-treatment assessment. Preregistered target: at least 70% non-missing at the post-treatment and follow-up assessments.

    Measured: Each week from the Each week from the beginning of treatment to the follow-up assessment (3 months after treatment)

  6. Feasibility 6: Acceptability of the online measurement strategy #2

    Perceived strain caused by the measurement strategy. Preregistered target: at least 75% with a rating below 7 from 0 ("not at all stressful/distressing") to 10 ("extremely stressful/distressing").

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (within 45 days after treatment)

  7. Feasibility 7: Patients' satisfaction with the treatment #1

    The 8-item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). Theoretical range: 8-32, where a higher score indicates higher satisfaction.

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (within 45 days after treatment)

  8. Feasibility 8: Patients' satisfaction with the treatment #2

    Likert items pertaining to satisfaction with components.

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (within 45 days after treatment)

  9. Feasibility 9: Rate of adverse events and negative experiences #1

    Questionnaire used in previous clinical trials (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04511286)

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (within 45 days after treatment)

  10. Feasibility 10: Rate of adverse events and negative experiences #2

    20-item Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ-20). This will be reported as the proportion of endorsed items in the following subdomains: increase in symptoms, perceived insufficient quality of treatment, dependency, stigma, and hopelessness.

    Measured: Post-treatment assessment (within 45 days after treatment)

  11. Feasibility 11: Preliminary efficacy in terms of within-group average change in general anxiety

    General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7, theoretical range: 0-21, where a higher score indicates more general anxiety)

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

  12. Feasibility 12: Preliminary efficacy in terms of within-group average change in depressive symptoms

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9, theoretical range: 0-27, where a higher score indicates more symptoms of depression)

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

  13. Feasibility 13: Preliminary efficacy in terms of within-group improvement in the fear of cancer recurrence

    9-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI-9, theoretical range: 0-36, where a higher score indicates a more pronounced fear of cancer recurrence)

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

  14. Feasibility 14: Preliminary efficacy in terms of within-group improvement in health-related quality of life

    36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36, scored as a Mental Health Component Score and a Physical Health Component Score according to standard norms, both with a theoretical range of 0-100, where a higher score indicates a higher health-related quality of life)

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)

Secondary outcomes (12)
  1. Symptom domains surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Health anxiety.

    14-item Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-14, theoretical range: 0-42, where a higher score indicates more health anxiety).

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days). Secondary analysis: from pre-treatment up to follow-up 3 months after treatment.

  2. Symptom domains surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Somatic symptom burden.

    Somatic Symptom Scale 8 (SSS-8, theoretical range: 0-32, where a higher score indicates a higher somatic symptom burden). Exploratory secondary analyses will be based on individual items, each scored 0-4.

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days). Secondary analysis: from pre-treatment up to follow-up 3 months after treatment.

  3. Symptom domains surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Body image distress.

    Body Image Scale (BIS, theoretical range: 0-30, where a higher score indicates a higher level of body image distress).

    Measured: Screening (within 6 months before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days).

  4. Symptom domains surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Disability.

    12-item WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WD2-12, theoretical range: 0-100, where a higher score indicates more disability).

    Measured: Pre-treatment assessment (within 2 weeks before treatment) to post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days). Secondary analysis: from pre-treatment up to follow-up 3 months after treatment.

  5. Process and target variables surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Behavioral activation

    3-item Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale - Activation (BADS-AC-3, theoretical range: 0-18, where a higher score indicates a higher level of behavioral activation).

    Measured: Pre-treatment (within 2 weeks before treatment), once each week during treatment (9 assessments in total), post-treatment (after treatment, completed within 45 days), and at follow-up 3 months after treatment (completed within 45 days).

  6. Process and target variables surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Symptom preoccupation

    Symptom Preoccupation Scale (preliminary scale). A higher score indicates higher degree of preoccupation with symptoms. This is to be regarded as an an item pool, and the scale is is under development, which means that the total range cannot be preregistered.

    Measured: Pre-treatment (within 2 weeks before treatment), once each week during treatment (9 assessments in total), post-treatment (after treatment, completed within 45 days), and at follow-up 3 months after treatment (completed within 45 days).

  7. Process and target variables surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Physical activity

    Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ, theoretical range 0-99, where a higher score indicates a higher level of physical activity). If necessary for statistical modeling, the GSLTPAQ will be dichotomized to indicate active (≥24) vs. insufficiently active (<24).

    Measured: Pre-treatment (within 2 weeks before treatment), once each week during treatment (9 assessments in total), post-treatment (after treatment, completed within 45 days), and at follow-up 3 months after treatment (completed within 45 days).

  8. Process and target variables surveyed primarily to assess the feasibility of the measurement method: Health-related self-efficacy.

    Based loosely on the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale. Theoretical range of 0-60, where a higher score indicates a higher level of general health-related self-efficacy.

    Measured: Pre-treatment (within 2 weeks before treatment), once each week during treatment (9 assessments in total), post-treatment (after treatment, completed within 45 days), and at follow-up 3 months after treatment (completed within 45 days).

  9. Relationship with the therapist (therapeutic alliance)

    Working Alliance Inventory (WAI, theoretical range: 6-42, where a higher score indicates a stronger therapeutic alliance)

    Measured: Week 2 of treatment

  10. Screening only: Alcohol use

    Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT, theoretical range: 0-40, where a higher score indicates more problematic alcohol use).

    Measured: At screening

  11. Screening only: Substance use

    Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT, theoretical range: 0-44, where a higher score indicates more problematic substance use).

    Measured: At screening

  12. Screening only: General distress

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, theoretical range: 0-42, where a higher score indicates more general distress).

    Measured: At screening

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Sep 2023
  2. Study start10 Mar 2024
  3. Primary completion22 Oct 2024
  4. Study completion22 Oct 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
40 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06046573
Sponsor's protocol ID
2023-04056-01 #1
Other IDs
2023
Acronym
IN-FACT-0
Status last verified
Dec 2024
First submitted
6 Sep 2023
Last updated
16 Dec 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data from this pilot study fall under Swedish and European Union data protection and privacy legislation and can therefore not be share in their entirety. Reasonable requests may be directed to the corresponding author, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Publications

  • Winter J, Gasslander N, Rane G, Sundstrom F, Bjorkhem-Bergman L, Hedman C, Axelsson E. Proof-of-concept for a randomized factorial design strategy to build a complex online support program for cancer survivors with psychiatric symptoms: the IN-FACT-0 feasibility trial. J Cancer Surviv. 2025 Oct 25. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01905-2. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 41136825

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Support and information, Behavioral activation and Systematic exposure with mindfulness training in people with Cancer Survivors and Anxiety, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Dec 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility 1: Feasibility of the randomized factorial design (time frame: Post-treatment assessment (immediately after treatment, completed within 45 days)). The study lists 14 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06046573, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Dec 2024.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in