Effects of a Lay-led Anxiety and Depression Self-management Program for Cancer Patients

Recent evidence suggest that transdiagnostic interventions may be just as effective as traditional diagnosis specific interventions when treating symptoms of depression and anxiety. Brief lay-led transdiagnostic self-management interventions may therefore offer an efficient alternative to traditional symptom specific interventions (e.g. CBT) when targeting symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer.

The present study aim to evaluate The Anxiety and Depression Symptom Management Program (ADSMP) in a cancer setting (ADSMP-C). The ADSMP is a Danish adaptation of The Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) and is developed by the Danish Health Information Committee (In Danish: Komiteen for Sundhedsoplysning in collaboration with The Expert Patient Program Community Interest Company (EPPCIC), the English Health Service (NHS) and Stanford University.

The ADSMP-C is a lay-led, group-based transdiagnostic patient education program consisting of seven 2 ½ hour weekly sessions focusing on increasing patient self-efficacy in symptom management of anxiety and depression concluded with a networking session. The intervention is highly structured and manualized. Sub-group analyses on participants with a history of cancer in a larger trial of ADSMP conducted by members of the study group on behalf of the Danish National Board of Health showed promising results. However, a larger study is needed to establish sound scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the program in a cancer setting.

A total 234 cancer patients recently having completed primary treatment with curative intent in central Region Denmark will be randomized (2:1) to ADSMP-C or a control arm respectively. As a part of the recruitment procedure patients will be screened with The "Distress-Thermometer" at the departments of oncology at the two largest hospitals in Central Region, Denmark following primary treatment or at a follow-up (< 1yrs. after primary treatment).

Participants completes online questionnaires (REDCap) at baseline (pre-randomization), at post-intervention, and at three (primary follow-up) and six months post-intervention, including the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-state) (primary outcomes). In addition, all participants will be interviewed at 7 month post-intervention. Outcome assessors, blind to group allocation, will perform observer-based Hamilton A6 and D6 short-form ratings at the interview (secondary outcomes).

Data will be evaluated by mixed-effects regression analyses (intention-to-treat).

The current study will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of ADSMP in a cancer setting.

Inclusion criteria

• Treated in Central Region Denmark
• Recently completed (< 1 yr.) primary treatment for cancer with curative intent
• BDI-II score >=14 and/or STAI-state score >=40

Exclusion criteria

• Not sufficient Danish language skills to fill Questionnaires and participate in a group based intervention
• Psychosis
• Aggressive behavior
• Imminent suicidal risk