Neoplasms

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

All Conditions

Symptoms and General Pathology

Nervous System Diseases

Rare Diseases

Breast Neoplasms

Pain

Chronic Pain

Breast Diseases

Skin Diseases

Neurologic Manifestations

Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease

All Drugs and Chemicals

Nicotine

Participants randomized to condition 1 are not offered any treatment components immediately upon enrollment, but will be offered a treatment component of own choice at the end of the study. Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours) following study completion.

Participants randomized to condition 2 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component. Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 3 will receive the Decentering treatment component. Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 4 will receive the Values and committed action treatment component. Total number of sessions: 2 (2 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 5 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Decentering treatment component. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 6 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 7 will receive the Decentering treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 8 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component, the Decentering treatment component, and the Values and committed action treatment component. Total number of sessions: 6 (6 contact hours).

The Mindful attention treatment component consists of a breathing exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions. Sessions will be delivered online.

Mindful attention

The Decentering treatment component consists of a guided imagery exercise and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions. Sessions will be delivered online.

Decentering

The Values and committed action treatment component consists of identification of personal values and committed action, and is operationalized as two sessions (1 hour each) delivered over two weeks, i.e., one session per week, with homework between sessions. Sessions will be delivered online.

Value-based action

Maja Johannsen, PhD

The present study is a pilot study that aims to evaluate the feasibility, validity, and preliminary efficacy of three psychological treatment components for pain after breast cancer, which will be evaluated in a larger trial following completion of the present pilot study.

The present pilot study is a precursor for a following larger trial and aims to evaluate the i) feasibility, ii) validity, and iii) preliminary efficacy of the three treatment components that will be further investigated in a subsequent larger trial. The present pilot study will employ the same design as will be used in the subsequent larger trial, namely the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Specifically, in the subsequent larger trial, MOST will be used to evaluate the efficacy and change processes of three psychological treatment components selected from so-called "third wave" cognitive therapies (CTs), which have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of pain after breast cancer.

The overall hypothesis is that the selected third wave CT components will target key maintaining psychological factors in pain, thus leading to reductions in the primary outcomes of pain intensity and -interference. Specifically, we hypothesize that:

1. Mindful attention practices will increase attentional control (i.e., the ability to intentionally focus and intentionally shift one's attention), thereby reducing pain hypervigilance, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
2. Decentering practices will reduce fusion with thoughts (i.e., getting caught up in one's thoughts and acting automatically in response to thoughts), thereby reducing pain catastrophizing, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
3. Values and committed action (i.e., behavior linked to values and goals) will increase acceptance of discomfort and reduce avoidant behavior, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.

The study uses a 2\^3 factorial design, randomizing participants to 8 experimental conditions

Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study

Optimization of Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST): A Pilot Study

Participants will be invited to participate in a 30-minutes semi-structured individual interview 10-14 days after their last session. The interview serves to support the validation of the treatment components and to provide in-depth knowledge about the participants' experiences through their qualitative comments.

Socio-demographic characteristics will be assessed using single questions (e.g., municipality, marital status, income, work status).

Clinical characteristics will be assessed using single questions (e.g., date of surgery, adjuvant therapy).

Treatment expectancy will be assessed using a single question regarding the extent to which the participant believes that the intervention will reduce pain and increase overall well-being. Answer format range: 1 (not at all) to 5 (a great deal); total score range: 1-5. Higher scores indicate stronger expectations that the intervention will lead to a positive outcome.

The WAI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing therapeutic alliance. Answer format range: 1 (never) to 7 (all the time); total score range: 12-84. Higher scores yield a stronger therapeutic alliance.

Homework will be assessed with 4 single items related to i) whether home work has been conducted (yes/no), and the ii) type, iii) frequency (number of days per week), and iv) duration of completed homework (average number of minutes per day).

The MAAS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing individual differences in the frequency of mindful states over time. Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never); total score range: 1-6. Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.

MAAS items 13 and 7 will be assessed before each session (Ts). Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never). Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.

MAAS item 6 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component. Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never). Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.

The EQ is a validated, self-report instrument assessing decentering. Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely); total score range: 11-55. Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.

EQ items 5 and 7 will be assessed before each session (Ts). Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely). Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.

EQ item 5 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component. Answer format range: 1 (do not agree at all) to 5 (agree completely). Higher scores yield higher levels of decentering.

The CPAS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain acceptance and activity engagement. Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true); subscale score range: 0-54 (pain acceptance subscale), 0-66 (activity engagement subscale). Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.

CPAS items 1 and 12 will be assessed before each session (Ts). Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true). Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.

CPAS item 1 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component. Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true). Higher scores yield more acceptance and activity engagement.

The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain intensity during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10. Higher scores yield more pain.

The BPI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing clinical pain. The BPI pain interference subscale assesses pain interference during the last week across 7 domains, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life. Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10. Higher scores yield more pain interference.

Pain intensity during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using the NRS. Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10. Higher scores yield more pain.

Pain interference during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using 1 aggregated item assessing pain interference across the 7 domains measured with the BPI interference subscale, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life. Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10. Higher scores yield more pain interference.

The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain burden during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (no burden) to 10 (maximal burden); total score range: 0-10. Higher scores yield more pain burden.

The pain descriptors from the MPQ constitutes a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain quality (i.e., pain type, namely continuous pain, intermittent pain, neuropathic pain, affective pain) during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-60 (continuous, neuropathic and intermittent pain), 0-40 (affective pain). Higher scores yield more pain.

The PCS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain catastrophizing. Answer format range: 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time); total score range: 0-52. Higher scores yield more pain catastrophizing.

The HADS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing psychological distress during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (not at all or never) to 3 (most or all of the time); total score range 0-42. Higher scores yield more distress.

The FCRI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing fear of cancer recurrence during the last month. Answer format range: 0 (not at all) to 4 (a great deal); total score range 0-36. Higher scores yield more fear of cancer recurrence.

The WHO-5 is a validated, self-report instrument assessing current well-being. Answer format range: 0 (at no time) to 5 (all the time); total score range: 0-100. Higher scores yield more well-being.

Danish Council for Independent Research

University of Aarhus

Assistant Professor

Central Nervous System Stimulants

Nicotinic Agonists

Cholinergic Agents

Neurotransmitter Agents

Participants randomized to condition 5 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Decentering treatment component in different orders. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 6 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component in different orders. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 7 will receive the Decentering treatment component and the Values and committed action treatment component in different orders. Total number of sessions: 4 (4 contact hours).

Participants randomized to condition 8 will receive the Mindful attention treatment component, the Decentering treatment component, and the Values and committed action treatment component in different orders. Total number of sessions: 6 (6 contact hours).

Values and committed action

Cecilie R Buskbjerg, PhD

Robert Zachariae, DMSc

The present study aims to optimize psychological treatment for pain after breast cancer by identifying active treatment components. Specifically, a factorial design will be used to evaluate the efficacy and change processes of three psychological treatment components, which have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of pain after breast cancer.

There is a need for optimization of psychological treatment of pain after breast cancer. Optimization relies on knowledge about the active components of existing treatments. Guided by the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), the present study aims to address this challenge by identifying active contemporary cognitive behavioral therapy components for breast cancer-related pain. Consistent with the Optimization phase of the MOST framework, a full factorial design will be used to evaluate the efficacy and change processes of three selected treatment components.The overall hypothesis is that the three components will target key maintaining psychological factors in pain, thus leading to reductions in the primary outcomes of pain intensity and -interference. The treatment components and their hypothesized mechanisms of action are as follows:

1. Mindful attention practices will increase attentional control (i.e., the ability to intentionally focus and intentionally shift one's attention), thereby reducing pain hypervigilance, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
2. Decentering practices will reduce fusion with thoughts (i.e., getting caught up in one's thoughts, feelings and inner experiences), thereby reducing pain catastrophizing, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.
3. Values and committed action (i.e., behavior congruent with one's values) will increase acceptance of discomfort and reduce avoidant behavior, leading to reductions in pain intensity and -interference.

The study uses a 2\^3 factorial design, randomizing participants to 8 experimental conditions. The seven active conditions consist of one, two, or three different treatment components. Participants receiving two or three treatment components will be randomized to receive them in different order.

Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer

Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer: A Factorial Design Study

All data underlying publication will be shared in accordance with current data sharing regulations at host institutions.

Socio-demographic characteristics will be assessed using single questions (e.g., marital status, income, work status).

Clinical data will be obtained from the register of the national Danish Breast Cancer Group (DCBG), including disease characteristics (e.g., date of diagnosis; endocrine receptor status; menopausal status) and allocated treatment protocol (e.g., type of primary surgery; radiotherapy (yes/no); endocrine therapy (yes/no); Herceptin treatment (yes/no); Zoledronic acid (yes/no)).

Treatment expectancy will be assessed using a single question regarding the extent to which the participant expects that the intervention to reduce pain and increase overall well-being. Answer format range: 1 (not at all) to 5 (a great deal); total score range: 1-5. Higher scores indicate stronger expectations that the intervention will lead to a positive outcome.

Homework will be assessed with 4 single items related to i) whether homework has been conducted (yes/no), and the ii) type, iii) frequency (number of days per week), and iv) duration of completed homework (average number of minutes per day).

MAAS item 7 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component. Answer format range: 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never). Higher scores yield higher levels of mindful attention.

CPAS items 1 and 12 will be assessed before each session (Ts). Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true). Higher scores yield more activity engagement.

CPAS item 1 will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component. Answer format range: 0 (never true) to 6 (always true). Higher scores yield more activity engagement

The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain intensity during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10. A higher score yields more pain.

The BPI is a validated, self-report instrument assessing clinical pain. The BPI pain interference subscale assesses pain interference during the last week across 7 domains, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life. Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10. A higher score yields more pain.

Pain intensity during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using the NRS. Answer format range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain); total score range: 0-10. A higher score yields more pain.

Pain interference during the last 24 hours will be assessed every day for 6 days following the first session (Td) for each treatment component using 1 aggregated item assessing pain interference across the 7 domains measured with the BPI interference subscale, i.e., general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life. Answer format range: 0 (no interference) to 10 (maximal interference); total score range: 0-10. A higher score yields more pain..

The NRS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing pain burden during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (no burden) to 10 (maximal burden); total score range: 0-10. A higher score yields more pain burden.

Pain frequency will be assessed using a single question. Answer format range: 1 (never) to 5 (all the time); total score range: 1-5. Higher scores yield higher pain frequency.

The HADS is a validated, self-report instrument assessing psychological distress during the last week. Answer format range: 0 (not at all or never) to 3 (most or all of the time); total score range 0-42. Higher scores yield more psychological distress.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization
Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study	NCT04841928	Pain, Chronic Breast Cancer	Mindful attenti... Decentering Value-based act...	18 Years - 80 Years	University of Aarhus
Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer	NCT05444101	Pain, Chronic Breast Cancer	Mindful attenti... Decentering Values and comm...	18 Years - 80 Years	University of Aarhus
Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer	NCT05444101	Pain, Chronic Breast Cancer	Mindful attenti... Decentering Values and comm...	18 Years - 80 Years	University of Aarhus
Optimizing Psychological Treatment for Pain After Breast Cancer	NCT05444101	Pain, Chronic Breast Cancer	Mindful attenti... Decentering Values and comm...	18 Years - 80 Years	University of Aarhus

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