Helping Cancer Patients Manage Opioid Use and Distress
A Novel Intervention for Avoidance-Related Opioid Misuse in Patients with Cancer
This project is developing and testing a new way to help cancer patients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and opioid use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111429 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many cancer patients experience anxiety and depression, which can sometimes lead to difficulties managing opioid medications. This project aims to create a specialized behavioral program, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), specifically for individuals with cancer. We want to help patients better cope with their psychological distress and use their pain medication as prescribed. The first steps involve refining this program and then trying it out with a small group of cancer patients to see how well it works.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future participation would be cancer patients who are experiencing anxiety or depression and are also using opioid medications.
Not a fit: Patients who are not using opioids or who do not experience anxiety or depression related to their cancer may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could offer cancer patients a new way to reduce their risk of opioid misuse and improve their overall well-being by addressing underlying psychological distress.
How similar studies have performed: While the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has shown promise in other areas, this specific intervention tailored for cancer patients struggling with opioid misuse is novel and currently untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yusufov, Miryam — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Yusufov, Miryam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.