Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist Shelley Johns, PsyD, presented two abstracts at the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) meeting in Maastricht, Netherlands on September 24-27, 2024. Both presentations focused on qualitative findings from the Facing Fear study, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded clinical trial.
Facing Fear is a three-arm randomized controlled trial designed to address clinically significant fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. The study evaluates the effectiveness of group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and enhanced usual care for breast cancer survivors suffering from clinically significant fear of recurrence.
ACT helps individuals cope with difficult thoughts and feelings through mindfulness, encouraging focus on the present moment and the pursuit of meaningful life goals without letting fear impact quality of life. CBT addresses unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors linked to fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), with sessions covering recurrence fear triggers, healthy lifestyle practices and scheduling enjoyable activities.
Dr. Johns presented results from two aspects of the study:
The poster presentation focused on the impact of FCR on breast cancer survivors (BCS) before intervention. BCS with high recurrence fear scores reported consistent disruptive impacts across several areas of life, from relationships to career and emotional health, while those with lower scores described their fear as intermittent and/or disruptive to fewer life areas. Survivors used coping strategies across behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual domains, with higher recurrence fear scores linked to more avoidant coping. Many expressed a need for more effective coping methods, with BCS seeking a sense of purpose, belonging and control. As FCR scores rose, so did the reasons for seeking support.
The podium presentation highlighted survivors’ experiences post-intervention. Participants provided feedback on what they valued most about the interventions, how their coping strategies evolved and suggested improvements for the therapies. BCS are open to and experience significant benefits from group interventions for recurrence fear delivered via telehealth. These interventions are manualized, making them easier to implement in practice settings.
Shelley A. Johns, PsyD
In addition to her role as a research scientist with the William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research at Regenstrief Institute, Shelley A. Johns, PsyD, is a nationally recognized, board-certified clinical health psychologist, an associate professor and the inaugural Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, and an IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher. Her research focuses on developing and testing mind-body interventions to improve the physical health and psychological well-being of adults with cancer.
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