Internet-based Support for Adjustment to Prostate Cancer

Launched by LINKOEPING UNIVERSITY · Jan 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how effective internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) can be in helping men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer manage feelings of distress, anxiety, and depression. The study is looking for men aged 18 and older who have experienced psychological symptoms after their prostate cancer diagnosis and who are not currently undergoing medical treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive an eight-week tailored ICBT program, which includes weekly support from a trained therapist, or to a control group that also receives therapist support but without the specific ICBT focus.

To be eligible, participants should have a certain level of psychological distress, as measured by a specific questionnaire. They must be able to communicate in Swedish and have access to a computer or smartphone with the internet. Importantly, men who have recently undergone treatment for prostate cancer or who have severe mental health issues that might affect their ability to participate will not be included in the study. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it offers a supportive way for men dealing with prostate cancer to improve their mental well-being from the comfort of their homes.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Subjectively reported psychological symptoms and problems that have come about after a prostate cancer diagnosis.
• • A sum score above 19 on the primary outcome measure (Kessler-10).
• • An age of 18 or older.
• • Ability to speak, read, and write Swedish.
• • Access to a computer/laptop/tablet/smartphone and internet access.
• • Sufficient computer profiency to be able to use the treatment platform.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Planned medical treatment or planned change in medication related to the prostate cancer during the treatment period.
• • Recently finished (within the past six months) medical treatment for prostate cancer.
• • Severe psychiatric or somatic conditions that impedes participation in the study.
• • Ongoing substance use problems.
• • Acute suicidality.
• • Other ongoing psychological treatment.
• • Psychopharmaceutic treatment that has been changed within the past month or with planned changes during the treatment phase.