Bridging the distance:Continuing psycho‐oncological care via video‐consults during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Key points: Video‐consults feel distant; patients and therapists miss the non‐verbal contact. Non‐verbal contact during face‐to‐face sessions helps clients to express what is most difficult for them. Video‐consults are a good alternative when face‐to‐face psycho‐oncological care is too burdensome for patients. Therapists preferably would continue with video consults for a mean of 28% of their time. Tips are provided to improve care through video‐consults

Exploring the dynamic interconnectedness of protective and perpetuating factors of cancer‐related fatigue

ObjectiveApproximately 25% of cancer patients suffer from cancer-related fatigue (CRF) after cancer treatment. CRF is a multi-factorial condition affected by several interrelated protective and perpetuating factors. As most studies merely assessed bivariate associations, more insight into the complex relationships among these constructs is needed. We applied the multivariate network approach to gain a better understanding of how patients' fatigue, perpetuating and protective factors are dynamically interconnected.MethodBetween February and August 2022, 30 cancer patients filled out a carefully developed ecological momentary assessment questionnaire (EnergyInSight) five times a day for at least 21 days while being on the waitlist for psychological care for CRF. We performed a multi-level vector autoregression analysis to examine the interconnectedness among fatigue, protective factors (allowing rest, acceptance, and self-efficacy) and perpetuating factors (worrying, catastrophizing, and feeling guilty).ResultsIn the contemporaneous network (concurrent associations), higher acceptance and self-efficacy were associated with lower fatigue, whereas all other factors were associated with higher fatigue. The strongest relationships were between worrying and feeling guilty and between acceptance and allowing rest. In the temporal network (lagged associations), fatigue was related to two factors: higher self-efficacy preceded lower fatigue, and higher fatigue preceded increased allowing rest.ConclusionsTaking all included factors into account, the networks identified self-efficacy and allowing rest as key protective factors of CRF. Patients may benefit from psychological interventions that cultivate self-efficacy, as it seems to pave the way to reduced fatigue.<br/

What web-based intervention for chronic cancer-related fatigue works best for whom?:Explorative moderation analyses of a randomized controlled trial

Purpose Approximately 25% of cancer patients suffer from chronic cancer-related fatigue (CCRF), which is a complex, multifactorial condition. While there are evidence-based interventions, it remains unclear what treatment works best for the individual patient. This study explored whether baseline characteristics moderated the effect of web-based mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (eMBCT) versus ambulant activity feedback (AAF) and a psycho-education control group (PE) on fatigue in patients suffering from CCRF. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, participant suffering from CCRF participated in either eMBCT, AAF, or PE. Complete data of the treatment-adherent sample (≥ 6 sessions) was used to explore whether sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics at baseline moderated the intervention effect on fatigue severity at 6 months. Results A trend showed that baseline fatigue severity and fatigue catastrophizing moderated the intervention effect. That is, at low levels of fatigue severity and catastrophizing, patients benefited more from AAF than from eMBCT and at high levels of fatigue severity and catastrophizing, patients benefited more from eMBCT than from PE. Conclusions This study found some preliminary evidence on what treatment works best for the individual suffering from CCRF. These findings emphasize the potential gain in effectiveness of personalizing treatment. An alternative approach that might help us further in answering the question “what treatment works best for whom?” is discussed

Living in the twilight zone:A qualitative study on the experiences of patients with advanced cancer obtaining long-term response to immunotherapy or targeted therapy

Purpose The introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapy has drastically improved the life expectancy of patients with advanced cancer. Despite improved survival, obtaining long-term response can be highly distressing and comes with uncertainties that affect several life domains. The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of long-term responders’ lived experiences with obtaining long-term response to immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using thematic data analysis. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 patients with advanced melanoma or lung cancer who had a confirmed response to or long-term stable disease while on immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Results Long-term responders are living in a twilight zone, where they neither feel like a patient, nor feel healthy. This impacts their self-image, interactions with their social environment, and feelings of uncertainty. Due to their uncertain life perspective, long-term responders are going back and forth between hope and despair, while they are longing for their ‘old’ life, several barriers, such as protective behavior of the social environment, force them to adjust to a life with cancer. Conclusion Long-term responders are facing many challenges, such as searching for a renewed identity, dealing with ongoing uncertainty, and having to adapt to a new normal. This emphasizes the importance of providing this new patient group with tailored information and support

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus treatment as usual in adults with ADHD: A trial-based economic evaluation

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Psychological distress in lung cancer. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for patients and partners

Contains fulltext : 176913.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Radboud University, 5 oktober 2017Promotores : Speckens, A.E.M., Prins, J.B. Co-promotor : Drift, M.A. van der203 p

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Psychological Distress and Cognitive Functioning in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a Pilot Study

Contains fulltext : 181806.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often suffer from psychological distress and cognitive dysfunctioning. These factors negatively impact the health-related quality of life. Only recently behavioral therapeutic approaches are being used to treat psychological distress in MS. The aim of the present pilot study was not only to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on psychological distress but also to explore whether it can improve cognitive functioning among patients with MS. Outpatients of the MS Center of the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) were invited to participate in an MBSR training. Psychological and cognitive measures were administered pre- and post-intervention. Twenty-five MS patients completed the MBSR training and psychological measures, of which 16 patients completed the cognitive tests. Significant improvements were found in depressive symptoms, quality of life, fatigue, mindfulness skills, and self-compassion. Of the cognitive tests, performance on a visual spatial processing test significantly improved after the intervention. Overall, this pilot study showed promising results of the effects of MBSR on reducing psychological distress, and it suggests MBSR might improve cognitive functioning in MS patients. Future randomized controlled trials should be conducted to confirm the possible effectiveness of MBSR-and its long-term effects-on psychological and cognitive functioning in MS patients

Bridging the distance: Continuing psycho‐oncological care via video‐consults during the COVID

Key points: Video‐consults feel distant; patients and therapists miss the non‐verbal contact. Non‐verbal contact during face‐to‐face sessions helps clients to express what is most difficult for them. Video‐consults are a good alternative when face‐to‐face psycho‐oncological care is too burdensome for patients. Therapists preferably would continue with video consults for a mean of 28% of their time. Tips are provided to improve care through video‐consults

Bridging the sciences of mindfulness and romantic relationships: A theoretical model and research agenda

Research on mindfulness, defined as paying conscious and non-judgmental attention to present-moment experiences, has increased rapidly in the past decade but has focused almost entirely on the benefits of mindfulness for individual well-being. This article considers the role of mindfulness in romantic relationships. Although strong claims have been made about the potentially powerful role of mindfulness in creating better relationships, it is less clear whether, when, and how this may occur. This article integrates the literatures on mindfulness and romantic relationship science, and sketches a theory-driven model and future research agenda to test possible pathways of when and how mindfulness may affect romantic relationship functioning. We review some initial direct and indirect evidence relevant to the proposed model. Finally, we discuss the implications of how studying mindfulness may further our understanding of romantic relationship (dys)functioning, and how mindfulness may be a promising and effective tool in couple interventions

Comments on 'Psychological intervention targeting distress for cancer patients: a meta-analytic study investigating uptake and adherence' by Brebach and colleagues (2016)

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