NCT05272553

Narrative Exposure Therapy to Reduce Symptoms of Traumatic Stress in Cancer Survivors

Investigating the Application of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) to Reduce Symptoms of Traumatic Stress in Cancer Patients Not in Active Treatment: a Naturalistic Single Case Study Series

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Nottingham · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of NET in reducing symptoms of traumatic stress (e.g., hyperarousal, avoidance, and intrusion) in cancer patients who are not in active treatment. Further aims include: * Can NET be effective in reducing symptoms of existential anxiety, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients who are not in active treatment? * Can NET improve the Quality of Life (QoL) of cancer patients who are not in active treatment? And are improvements in QoL associated to reduction of traumatic stress? * Can NET lead to post-traumatic growth? * Does the NET protocol need to be adapted to meet cancer patients' needs?

Detailed description

Research has shown that cancer can lead to significant emotional and social distress. Many elements of the cancer experience can be perceived as traumatic by cancer patients, including diagnostic testing, waiting periods, prolonged and invasive treatment procedures, follow-up scans, and fear of recurrence. Unlike single traumatic events, cancer behaves as an ongoing and chronic stressor. Emotional and social distress (including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders), can lead to reduced treatment compliance and less adherence to a healthy lifestyle which might compromise chances of survival. Research has shown that due to the psychological distress experienced during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, cancer patients are interested in receiving psychosocial support; unfortunately, their distress is often perceived as "normal" and "manageable" by professionals. The result is that 30-40% of cancer patients are not supported. This study aims to evaluate whether Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) can be a feasible, acceptable, and effective intervention to reduce symptoms of traumatic stress in adult cancer patients who are not in active treatment. NET is a time-limited, structured, and evidenced-based intervention designed to reduce symptoms of traumatic stress through two main processes: fear habituation and integration of the traumas within the autobiographical memory. Six participants will be recruited with the support of Clinical Psychologists working in cancer services across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, they will receive around twelve weekly interventions sessions. Changes will be explored through outcome measures administered before, during, and after the intervention and through interviews about their experience at the end. The study is founded by The University of Nottingham. Potential benefits include providing initial evidence to address traumatic stress in cancer patients, providing an intervention which could be suitable for psycho-oncology services which might lack resources to offer long-term psychosocial support, and contributing to the evidence for the use of NET in a new group.

Conditions

• Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Narrative Exposure Therapy	NET (Schauer et al., 2011) is an evidence-based, short-term, manualised treatment for trauma-spectrum disorders; it aims to reduce symptoms of traumatic stress in individuals who continue to suffer from past experiences of traumatic stressors; NET combines principles of CBT, Testimony Therapy, and Exposure Therapy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-03-04
• Primary completion: 2023-02-01
• Completion: 2023-09-01
• First posted: 2022-03-09
• Last updated: 2022-05-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom