Psychological distress is common after completion of cancer treatment. However, current psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in cancer patients is limited in efficacy. 

Fisher et al (2019) evaluated if brief MCT was potentially efficacious and could be delivered effectively to adult cancer survivors. An open trial with 3 and 6-month follow up was conducted. 27 patients received six 1-hour sessions of individual MCT, where symptoms of anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, and post-traumatic stress were evaluated. In addition, quality of life and metacognitive beliefs were assessed. 

MCT was found to significantly reduce symptoms of distress across all measures, with results maintained at 6-month follow up. In the completer sample (N = 20), 80% were classified as recovered at post-treatment and 70% at 6-month follow-up. 

The results provide preliminary support for brief-MCT however further studies are required evaluating the efficacy of brief MCT against gold-standard psychological interventions. 

Click here for the full articles: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00162