Metacognitive Therapy for Emotional Distress in Adult Cancer Survivors: A Case Series
Open accessAbstract
Many adult cancer survivors experience persistent emotional distress after completing cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to test the potential of a brief transdiagnostic psychological intervention-metacognitive therapy (MCT)-in reducing emotional distress in adult cancer survivors. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design with 3- and 6-months follow-up was used to evaluate the effects of MCT in four patients consecutively referred to a psycho-oncology service. Each patient received six 1-h sessions of MCT. Anxiety, depression, worry/rumination, fear of cancer recurrence and metacognitive beliefs were assessed using self-report questionnaires. MCT was associated with clinically significant reductions in anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, worry/rumination and metacognitive beliefs at the end of treatment, and gains were maintained in all patients to 3-months follow-up and in three out of four patients to 6-months follow-up. MCT is a promising brief transdiagnostic approach to psychological morbidity in adult survivors of cancer. Larger scale controlled trials are now required.
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Preliminary studies of metacognitive therapy for treating anxiety and depression within physical illnesses show promising evidence.
“Preliminary studies of metacognitive therapy for treating anxiety and depression within physical illnesses show promising evidence [67–69].”
From Metacognitive beliefs and their relationship with anxiety and depression in physical illnesses: A systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [67]
Several study protocols and feasibility studies have been published during this period.
“and several study protocols and feasibility studies have been published during this period.11-18”
From Effect of Psychological Intervention on Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Fisher, P. L., Byrne, A., & Salmon, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Fisher, Peter L.
- Venue
- Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Published
- 2017-05-29
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 891-901
- ISSN
- 0147-5916 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2819
- PMC
- PMC5656708
- OpenAlex
- W2619470158
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cognitive Therapy and Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Keywords
- metacognitive therapy, cancer survivors, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, rumination, worry, fear of cancer recurrence, metacognitive beliefs, psycho-oncology, transdiagnostic treatment, brief psychological intervention
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