Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to reduce cancer distress in hepatobiliary cancer patients

Development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Cancer Distress Among Rural and Urban Patients With Hepatobiliary Cancers (ACT-HBC)

NA · Mayo Clinic · NCT07124546

This project tests if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps adults with hepatobiliary cancer reduce cancer-related distress.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMayo Clinic (other)
Locations1 site (Rochester, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT07124546 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional program delivers Acceptance and Commitment Therapy tailored for patients with hepatobiliary cancers, primarily via telemedicine. Participants complete standardized questionnaires before, during, and after the intervention to measure cancer distress and related quality-of-life outcomes. Eligible adults must report cancer-related distress, be able to read and write English, have internet access, and reside in Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. Patients with HBC in remission, uncontrolled psychotic symptoms, or who recently started another psychological therapy are excluded.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18) with active hepatobiliary cancer who verbally report cancer distress, can read and write English, have internet access, and live in Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients in HBC remission, those without significant cancer distress, those lacking internet access or English literacy, and those with active uncontrolled psychosis or a very recent new psychological therapy may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could reduce cancer-related distress and improve patients' coping and quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other behavioral interventions have shown benefit for distress in oncology and chronic illness populations, but ACT specifically tailored for hepatobiliary cancer is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* HBC diagnosis
* Age \>= 18 years
* Able to provide written informed consent
* Verbally endorse cancer distress
* Access to the internet
* Read and write in English
* Reside in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other psychological therapy that started =\< 2 months prior to prospective enrollment
* Inability to actively participate in and learn from group therapy (e.g., active/uncontrolled psychotic symptoms, neurological condition, personality pathology) as determined by clinical judgement in Behavioral Medicine Program (BMP) consultation. Individual therapy or alternative group therapy will be offered to patients ineligible per this criterion
* HBC remission

Where this trial is running

Rochester, Minnesota

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: Malignant Hepatobiliary Neoplasm

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.