Effects of brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on subjective cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study examined the efficacy of a brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on subjective cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

Data collection was carried out in 3-time points: baseline (T1), screening (T2), and post-treatment (T3). Respondents who had significant subjective cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups: intervention (n = 30) and waitlist (n = 30). Respondents in the intervention group received 4 sessions of 1 hour of ACT therapy.

FINDINGS: Respondents in the intervention group showed significant improvement in subjective cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, and psychological inflexibility after the ACT intervention (p < 0.05). After controlling the covariates, group differences in all variables were significant except for fatigue and psychological inflexibility has the highest effect size (d = 4.69).

CONCLUSION

ACT could be considered as an effective intervention to ameliorate subjective cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and psychological inflexibility in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS: This study highlights the importance of screening for subjective cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and heightens their opportunity to receive proper management as earlier as possible.