Efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological rehabilitation in cancer patients treated with proton and heavy ion therapy:a non-randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Objective To develop an appropriate intervention utilizing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) tailored specifically for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, and to investigate its impact on hope, psychological resilience, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress among cancer patients receiving proton and heavy ion therapy. Methods 80 participants were allocated into either an intervention group (n=40) or a control group (n=40) based on their admission time. Both the control and intervention groups underwent a 3-week health education program, with the intervention group additionally participating in a 3-week, 6-session acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group psychological intervention. Discrepancies in hope levels, psychological resilience, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress between the two groups were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up using linear mixed-effects analysis (LMM). Results LMM analyses revealed that at the end of the intervention, scores for Hope and Psychological Resilience were higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.025, P=0.003 respectively), while scores for Psychological Flexibility were lower in the control group (P=0.001). Furthermore, at the 3-month follow-up, HHI scores remained higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.025), while scores for Psychological Flexibility and Psychological Distress were lower in the intervention group (P=0.001, P=0.001 respectively). These differences persisted even after adjusting for baseline values. Conclusion A psychological intervention program based on the ACT model of treatment helps to promote psychological recovery in cancer patients with radiotherapy. Evidence is provided for the effectiveness of positive clinical psychological interventions. Trial registration: ChiCTR2300068349