Emotion-Focused Therapy for Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Hospital-Based Exploratory Outcome Study

• Published in: Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2022-06, Vol.59 (2), p.261-270
• Main Authors: Almeida, Susana N., Elliott, Robert, Silva, Eunice R., Sales, Célia M. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Distress; Emotion Focused Therapy; Fear; Fear - psychology; Female; Hospitals; Human; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - psychology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - therapy; Neoplasms; Oncology; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Psychotherapy; Quality of Life - psychology; Relapse (Disorders); Treatment Outcomes
• ISSN: 0033-3204; 1939-1536
• DOI: 10.1037/pst0000389

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a main concern for most cancer survivors and can bring significant distress impacting well-being and quality of life. Although other psychological approaches have been developed for dysfunctional FCR, based on previous research, emotion-focused therapy (EFT) might also be a relevant intervention for treating this concern. A total of 17 adults with a cancer diagnosis and presenting FCR among other cancer-related concerns were offered EFT, delivered in a regular practice in a cancer hospital (mean number of sessions = 13, range: 4-25). Outcome and process instruments were used to assess general psychological distress, client-generated outcome items, and helpful and hindering aspects of therapy. Significant pre-post outcome differences were found, both for client-generated (d = 1.53) and standard (d = .88) measures, with no cases of reliable deterioration, although most patients did not show clinically significant change by the end of therapy. The most frequent helpful in-session processes were client verbal expression of experience and work on parts of self; the most common immediate session impacts were positive feelings and self-realizations. EFT may be a useful alternative treatment for FCR. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: Is emotion-focused therapy (EFT) a potentially effective treatment for fear of cancer recurrence (FCR)? Findings: EFT was found to be an effective intervention for helping a Portuguese sample of people seen in routine practice to deal with their cancer-related distress, including FCR. Meaning: Based on this exploratory study, EFT might be a useful alternative treatment for FCR. Next Steps: Replication studies and randomized controlled trials will be necessary to confirm and expand these results.