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Psychological intervention (ConquerFear) for treating fear of cancer recurrence: mediators and moderators of treatment efficacy

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Abstract

Purpose

ConquerFear is an efficacious intervention for fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) that demonstrated greater improvements than an attention control (relaxation training) in a randomized controlled trial. This study aimed to determine mediators and moderators of the relative treatment efficacy of ConquerFear versus relaxation.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-two cancer survivors completed 5 therapy sessions and outcome measures before and after intervention and at 6 months’ follow-up. We examined theoretically relevant variables as potential mediators and moderators of treatment outcome. We hypothesized that metacognitions and intrusions would moderate and mediate the relationship between treatment group and FCR level at follow-up.

Results

Only total FCR score at baseline moderated treatment outcome. Participants with higher levels of FCR benefited more from ConquerFear relative to relaxation on the primary outcome. Changes in metacognitions and intrusive thoughts about cancer during treatment partially mediated the relationship between treatment group and FCR.

Conclusions

These results show that ConquerFear is relatively more effective than relaxation for those with overall higher levels of FCR. The mediation analyses confirmed that the most likely mechanism of treatment efficacy was the reduction in unhelpful metacognitions and intrusive thoughts during treatment, consistent with the theoretical framework underpinning ConquerFear.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

ConquerFear is a brief, effective treatment for FCR in cancer survivors with early-stage disease. The treatment works by reducing intrusive thoughts about cancer and changing beliefs about worry and is particularly helpful for people with moderate to severe FCR.

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Acknowledgements

ConquerFear Authorship group includes Melanie Bell, Lisa Beatty, Barbara Bennett, Rachel Brebach, Christina Brock, Sue Butler, Donna Byrne, Justine Diggens, Amanda Fairclough, Therese Faulkner, Maria Ftanou, Maree Grier, Geraldine Hill, Tessa Jones, Laura Kirsten, Sue McConaghey, Sarah McKinnon, Catherine Mihalopoulos, Shab Mireskandari, Toni Musiello, James Penhale, Annabel Pollard, Anita Rangganadhan, Marita Scealy, Mary Scott, Sophy Shih, Mey Teoh, Kerry Tiller and Paula Watt.

Funding

The work presented in this paper was co-funded by BeyondBlue, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Cancer Australia (CAPdCCRS 1022584).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Louise Sharpe, B. Thewes, S. Tesson, S. Day, K. Grunewald & P. Butow

  2. Mental Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia

    J. Turner

  3. Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital and School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Saint Lucia, Australia

    J. E. Fardell

  4. Department Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands

    B. Thewes

  5. Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    A. B. Smith & A. Girgis

  6. Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia

    J. Gilchrist

  7. Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

    J. Beith & P. Butow

  8. Department of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Missenden Rd., Camperdown, Australia

    J. Beith

Authors
  1. Louise Sharpe
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  2. J. Turner
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  3. J. E. Fardell
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  4. B. Thewes
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  5. A. B. Smith
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  6. J. Gilchrist
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  7. J. Beith
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  8. A. Girgis
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  9. S. Tesson
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  10. S. Day
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  11. K. Grunewald
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  12. P. Butow
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Consortia

ConquerFear Authorship group

  • Melanie Bell
  • , Lisa Beatty
  • , Barbara Bennett
  • , Rachel Brebach
  • , Christina Brock
  • , Sue Butler
  • , Donna Byrne
  • , Justine Diggens
  • , Amanda Fairclough
  • , Therese Faulkner
  • , Maria Ftanou
  • , Maree Grier
  • , Geraldine Hill
  • , Tessa Jones
  • , Laura Kirsten
  • , Sue McConaghey
  • , Sarah McKinnon
  • , Catherine Mihalopoulos
  • , Shab Mireskandari
  • , Toni Musiello
  • , James Penhale
  • , Annabel Pollard
  • , Anita Rangganadhan
  • , Marita Scealy
  • , Mary Scott
  • , Sophy Shih
  • , Mey Teoh
  • , Kerry Tiller
  •  & Paula Watt

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Louise Sharpe.

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Conflict of interest

Author Jane Beith received travel, accommodation and expenses from Roche. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Sharpe, L., Turner, J., Fardell, J.E. et al. Psychological intervention (ConquerFear) for treating fear of cancer recurrence: mediators and moderators of treatment efficacy. J Cancer Surviv 13, 695–702 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00788-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00788-4

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