Clinical trial · Interventional
Fighting the Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study on the Effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy (MCT) in reducing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among cancer survivors. With advances in cancer treatment, more patients are surviving cancer. However, many survivors continue to experience fear of cancer recurrence, which can affect their emotional well-being, quality of life, and ability to return to normal daily activities. In this study, participants will receive a structured psychological intervention adapted from the ConquerFear program. This program has been modified to better fit local cultural needs. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either metacognitive therapy or relaxation therapy. The study will compare the effects of these interventions on reducing fear of cancer recurrence, as well as their impact on emotional distress and quality of life. The results of this study may help develop effective psychological treatments to support cancer survivors in managing fear of recurrence and improving overall well-being.
Conditions
Conditions (3)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Survivors | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Fear of Cancer Recurrence | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Psychological Distress | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metacognitive Therapy | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Relaxation Therapy | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) Group
- description
- Participants in this group will receive a structured metacognitive therapy (MCT) intervention adapted from the ConquerFear program. The intervention is designed to reduce fear of cancer recurrence by targeting maladaptive metacognitive processes such as worry and rumination. The therapy will be delivered over a defined treatment period.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Metacognitive Therapy
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Relaxation Therapy
- description
- Participants in this group will receive relaxation therapy as a control condition. The intervention includes relaxation techniques aimed at reducing stress and emotional distress. This group serves as an active comparator to evaluate the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in reducing fear of cancer recurrence.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Relaxation Therapy
Primary outcomes (1)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18 years or older. 2. Patients with cancer classified as stage I, II, or III according to the TNM staging system who have completed primary cancer treatment. 3. Ability to understand and read Chinese, with no significant cognitive impairment. 4. A score of 13 or higher on a validated measure of fear of cancer recurrence. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders. 2. Individuals who have difficulty communicating in Mandarin. -
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available