Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program for people with breast cancer

Investigation of the Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention on Psychological Distress and Reintegration Into Normal Life in Oncology Patients

NA · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · NCT06457178

This will see if a five-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program helps adults with stage 1–3 breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy reduce psychological distress and improve reintegration into normal life compared with a psychoeducation program or routine care.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment75 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorIstanbul University - Cerrahpasa (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Istanbul)
Trial IDNCT06457178 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with stage 1–3 breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy are randomized into three groups: a five-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention, a five-session psychoeducation program, or routine care with no specific intervention. All participants complete questionnaires before and after the intervention period to measure psychological distress, resilience, and reintegration into normal life. The ACT and psychoeducation sessions are delivered in online group format, requiring internet access and basic computer skills. Researchers will compare changes across the three groups to see whether ACT produces larger improvements than psychoeducation or routine care.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with stage 1–3 breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy who can read and write, have internet access and computer skills for online group sessions, and show low-to-moderate scores on a brief psychological resilience scale are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with serious psychiatric or cognitive impairments, physical limitations that prevent participation, those currently in psychotherapy/psychoeducation groups, without internet/computer access, or with advanced (stage 4) disease are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the ACT intervention could reduce psychological distress and help patients reintegrate into daily life more effectively than psychoeducation or routine care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical work has shown that group-based ACT and other psychotherapy approaches can reduce distress and improve quality of life for some cancer patients, though results vary by study and population.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older,
* Being able to read and write,
* Receiving oncologic treatment,
* Being diagnosed with breast cancer,
* To know about Medical Diagnosis,
* Being in stage 1, 2 or 3 of the disease,
* Receiving outpatient chemotherapy treatment only,
* Internet access and computer skills to participate in online group interviews,
* Low to moderate scores on the brief psychological resilience scale,

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having serious psychiatric or cognitive impairments that limit adherence to group sessions,
* Having a physical disability that may make it difficult to participate in group sessions,
* Failure to attend sessions regularly and absenteeism,
* Currently being in a psychoeducation/psychotherapy group

Where this trial is running

Istanbul

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.