Seo-Hyun Jun
Research Mentor(s): Rachel Brandon
Mentor Department: School of Social Work and Michigan Medicine Pediatrics Oncology Department
Authors: Seo-Hyun Jun, Anao Zhang, PhD, Sunnye Mayes, PhD, Rachel Brandon, Doctoral Student
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 35
Abstract
Researchers in the field of Psycho-Oncology have conducted numerous studies on cancer’s immediate and long-term impacts within Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA; ages 15 to39), a group significantly impacted by cancer diagnoses. Despite this, studies on specific interventions for psychological distress that cancer causes within young patients are few and far between. This study plans to test the efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) – an empirically validated, brief and hope-based psychotherapeutic intervention – on managing cancer-related distress in AYAs. SFBT-C – a adapted form of SFBT focuses on relevant principles in therapeutic interventions designed for cancer patients – consists of four 30-minute virtual sessions with a clinical psychologist to address cancer-related distress. Specific aims include 1) evaluate the efficacy of virtually formatted SFBT-Csessions in comparison to the group that is assigned with Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) and to 2) correlate and analyze the role of hope as the core mechanism in reducing psychological distress within the AYA patients. SFBT-Cs is a Randomized Control Trial being performed at the University of Michigan. The study is being performed in order to build hope for the future among the population of AYA cancer survivors and patients between the ages of 15 and 39 who are receiving active care and post-treatment survivorship care. As they face greater challenges related to cancer due to its unique biopsychosocial needs, AYA cancer survivors generally report clinically significant psychological distress. The general distress comes from the discomfort in their emotional state in response to a life stressor. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy will be utilized by patients virtually with clinical psychologists who will be helping them build hope and confidence as they receive constant care and treatment for their condition. The general goal is to achieve and evaluate the role of hope as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy’s core mechanism is reducing psychological distress among the AYA cancer survivors.
