Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31347010›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2019

Psychological intervention (ConquerFear) for treating fear of cancer recurrence: mediators and moderators of treatment efficacy.

Louise Sharpe, J Turner, J E Fardell, B Thewes, A B Smith, J Gilchrist, J Beith, A Girgis, S Tesson, S Day and 3 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Trajectories of dyadic fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer couples: a prospective observational study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  14. Real-world evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy-based group programme for breast cancer survivors with fear of cancer recurrence.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Article
  15. Intensity of mental health treatment of cancer-related psychopathology: the predictive role of Early Maladaptive Schemas.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Louise SharpeSchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia. louise.sharpe@sydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8790-6272
J TurnerMental Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia.
J E FardellKids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital and School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Saint Lucia, Australia.
B ThewesSchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
A B SmithCentre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
J GilchristCrown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
J BeithPsycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
A GirgisCentre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
S TessonSchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
S DaySchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
K GrunewaldSchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
P ButowSchool of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum (A18), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
ConquerFear Authorship group

Funding

beyondblue, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Cancer Australia CAPdCCRS 1022584
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeConquerFear is an efficacious intervention for fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) that demonstrated greater improvements than an attention control (relaxation training) in a randomized controlled trial. This study aimed to determine mediators and moderators of the relative treatment efficacy of ConquerFear versus relaxation.

methodsOne hundred and fifty-two cancer survivors completed 5 therapy sessions and outcome measures before and after intervention and at 6 months' follow-up. We examined theoretically relevant variables as potential mediators and moderators of treatment outcome. We hypothesized that metacognitions and intrusions would moderate and mediate the relationship between treatment group and FCR level at follow-up.

resultsOnly total FCR score at baseline moderated treatment outcome. Participants with higher levels of FCR benefited more from ConquerFear relative to relaxation on the primary outcome. Changes in metacognitions and intrusive thoughts about cancer during treatment partially mediated the relationship between treatment group and FCR.

conclusionsThese results show that ConquerFear is relatively more effective than relaxation for those with overall higher levels of FCR. The mediation analyses confirmed that the most likely mechanism of treatment efficacy was the reduction in unhelpful metacognitions and intrusive thoughts during treatment, consistent with the theoretical framework underpinning ConquerFear. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: ConquerFear is a brief, effective treatment for FCR in cancer survivors with early-stage disease. The treatment works by reducing intrusive thoughts about cancer and changing beliefs about worry and is particularly helpful for people with moderate to severe FCR.

Indexed as

FearPsychotherapyAcceptance and Commitment TherapyAdultAnxietyAttentionCancer SurvivorsCognitionEmotional RegulationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMetacognitionMiddle AgedNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalAcceptance commitment therapyCancerFear of recurrenceIntrusive thoughtsMetacognitionsMetacognitive therapyOncologyPsychotherapy

Identifiers

PMID31347010

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.