e-Motion: Promoting Emotion Regulation for People Living with Chronic Cancer
Promoting Emotion Regulation in Patients Living With Chronic Cancer : A Pilot Feasibility, Acceptability and Tolerability Study (e-Motion Project)
This pilot tests two emotion-regulation programs—a guided self-help program and a combined group plus guided self-help program—for people recently diagnosed with metastatic or other chronic cancers.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Université Libre de Bruxelles Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, immunotherapy |
| Locations | 2 sites (Brussels, Anderlecht and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07236021 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot will enroll 30 patients with recently diagnosed chronic or metastatic cancer to compare a guided self-help intervention alone with a combined group plus guided self-help intervention. The interventions draw on emotion-regulation techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, and positive psychology delivered over 12 weeks, with weekly ecological momentary assessments (EMA). Participants complete baseline and 15-week follow-up questionnaires, a 7-day EMA of emotions, and a post-intervention qualitative interview and satisfaction survey. The primary focus is feasibility, acceptability, and tolerability, with secondary exploratory analyses of changes in psychological symptoms.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with chronic/metastatic cancer within the past 12 months who have completed at least one active cancer treatment and can attend assessments and sessions at the Brussels sites.
Not a fit: Patients with a life expectancy under one year, those with extensive prior treatment lines beyond the study limits, or those unable to participate in group or EMA activities may not receive benefit from these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these programs could improve emotion regulation, reduce psychological symptoms, and increase coping and satisfaction for people living with chronic metastatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: CBT-based and psycho-oncology interventions have shown benefits for distress in cancer patients, but the specific combination of guided self-help, group sessions, EMA monitoring, and hypnosis used here is relatively novel with limited pilot-level evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Having received a diagnosis of chronic cancer (metastatic breast cancer, metastatic melanoma, metastatic colorectal, metastatic ovarian, metastatic uterine, metastatic endometrial, metastatic prostate, metastatic bladder, metastatic kidney or metastatic testicular cancer, symptomatic multiple myeloma, metastatic non-small cell lung, metastatic mesothelioma or metastatic thymoma) in the past 12 months, * Having completed at least one active treatment session (e.g., chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, target therapy). Exclusion Criteria: * Having less than one year of life expectancy * Having more than one treatment line (for triple negative breast cancer, melanoma, gynecological cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, non-small cell lung, mesothelioma and thymoma) or two treatment lines (for other breast cancers and testicular cancer) or three treatment lines (for prostate cancer and multiple myeloma), * Having a diagnosis of oligometastatic cancer, * Age \< 18 years, * Non-fluency in French, * Inability to follow the online intervention, * Severe cognitive impairment, and severe and/or acute psychiatric disorder.
Where this trial is running
Brussels, Anderlecht and 1 other locations
- Institut Jules Bordet, Hôpital universitaire de Bruxelles — Brussels, Anderlecht, Belgium (Not_yet_recruiting)
- H.U.B Institut Jules Bordet — Brussels, Brussels Capital, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Florence Lewis, PhD — Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Study coordinator: Florence Lewis, PhD
- Email: florence.lewis@hubruxelles.be
- Phone: +32 2 541 73 36
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.