Attention Bias Modification for the Improvement of Anxiety in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Description

This clinical trial studies how well attention bias modification (ABM) improves anxiety in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Cancer-related anxiety is the most prevalent mental health problem affecting AYA cancer survivors. Cancer-related anxiety is associated with long-term negative outcomes such as poor quality of life, depression, distress, substance use, sleep problems, fatigue, and pain. ABM uses techniques to help patients change the way they react to environmental triggers that may cause a negative reaction. ABM uses brief self-guided smartphone applications. Patients complete repetitive association reaction-time tasks targeting automatic and unconscious negative attention biases to retrain attention away from perceived threat and towards a neutral or positive stimuli. Gratitude-finding and savoring activities are also provided to maintain and increase positive emotions. Using ABM plus gratitude-finding and savoring activities may improve anxiety in AYA cancer survivors.

Conditions

Childhood Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm, Childhood Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This clinical trial studies how well attention bias modification (ABM) improves anxiety in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Cancer-related anxiety is the most prevalent mental health problem affecting AYA cancer survivors. Cancer-related anxiety is associated with long-term negative outcomes such as poor quality of life, depression, distress, substance use, sleep problems, fatigue, and pain. ABM uses techniques to help patients change the way they react to environmental triggers that may cause a negative reaction. ABM uses brief self-guided smartphone applications. Patients complete repetitive association reaction-time tasks targeting automatic and unconscious negative attention biases to retrain attention away from perceived threat and towards a neutral or positive stimuli. Gratitude-finding and savoring activities are also provided to maintain and increase positive emotions. Using ABM plus gratitude-finding and savoring activities may improve anxiety in AYA cancer survivors.

Anxiety and Negative Attentional Bias in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Attention Bias Modification for the Improvement of Anxiety in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Condition
Childhood Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Seattle

Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Age 15-29 years
  • * Diagnosis of cancer malignancy
  • * Received active/curative cancer treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH), or other study referring site (e.g. St. Jude)
  • * Currently off active/curative cancer treatment
  • * Patient able to understand/read/write English language
  • * Cognitively able to participate in ABM intervention and complete surveys
  • * Patient has access to smartphone able to send and receive text messages
  • * Patients on active/curative cancer treatment
  • * Cognitively or physically unable to participate in ABM intervention and surveys
  • * Patients who cannot understand/read/write English will be excluded from the research because the ABM intervention is currently only available in English

Ages Eligible for Study

15 Years to 29 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center,

Nancy Lau, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium

Study Record Dates

2026-12-31