---
title: COMpassion FOcused Therapy and Breathing Pattern REtraining After Cancer Recurrence
nct_id: NCT05518591
overall_status: UNKNOWN
phase: NA
sponsor: University College Dublin
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Psychological Distress
countries: Ireland
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT05518591.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05518591"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2022-08-26
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:04:51.885Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# COMpassion FOcused Therapy and Breathing Pattern REtraining After Cancer Recurrence

**Official Title:** A Randomised Control Trial Comparing Compassion Focused Therapy and Breathing Pattern Retraining With Treatment as Usual in Patients Diagnosed With Cancer Recurrence During COVID.

**NCT ID:** [NCT05518591](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05518591)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** UNKNOWN
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 160
- **Lead Sponsor:** University College Dublin
- **Collaborators:** Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Irish Cancer Society
- **Conditions:** Psychological Distress, Cancer Recurrence
- **Start Date:** 2022-03-25
- **Completion Date:** 2023-06
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2022-08-26

## Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate how effective a particular psychological intervention is at reducing psychological distress for people who were diagnosed with cancer 'recurrence' since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

## Detailed Description

This study plans to study how effective a particular psychological intervention is at reducing psychological distress for people who were diagnosed with cancer 'recurrence' since the beginning of the pandemic, having previously been diagnosed with cancer. We know that a cancer diagnosis can often result in significant psychological distress. After or during treatment for cancer, individuals often experience a 'fear of recurrence', which should it occur, often results in a state of mental anguish that is described as being more punishing than the initial diagnosis itself. Being diagnosed with a cancer recurrence diagnosis can trigger marked negative psychological symptoms, including distress, uncertainty, traumatic distress and adjustment problems, with psychological recovery from this diagnosis often being slower than that of the initial cancer diagnosis. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected these patients further, in terms of restricted access to healthcare, reduced social supports, and greater levels of treatment uncertainty. Our research team has designed a psychological intervention that is specifically aimed to help some of these issues. It's a 6-week online group intervention using a 'compassion focused therapy' approach, coupled with specialised breathing techniques to reduce bodily distress. It is being done online due to ongoing concerns around COVID but also to eliminate geographical and/or commuting barriers. It is our expectation that those receiving the psychological intervention will experience noticeable reductions in measures of psychological distress compared to those who are receiving regular treatment. It is our hope that the outcomes of this study will inform how best to help patients facing into cancer recurrence at a national level.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* adults aged 18 or older
* pre-existing cancer diagnosis
* diagnosis of cancer recurrence during COVID-19 (March 2020 onwards)
* Living in Ireland
* English speaking / fluency
* Access to web / tech support

Exclusion Criteria:

* A score \<4 on the Distress Thermometer
* Patient non-consent
* The presence of a severe mental illness (such as schizophrenia, personality disorder or active illness)
* Known or suspected drug or alcohol abuse problems within past 3 months
* Inability to follow the study procedures e.g. dementia or non-fluency of English
* Life expectancy \<3 months
```

## Arms

- **CFT & BPR** (EXPERIMENTAL) — 6-week, virtual, psychological therapy group involving compassion focused therapy and breathing pattern retraining. This group involves exercises in practicing self-compassion, emotional regulation, and breathing retraining.
- **Treatment As Usual** (NO_INTERVENTION) — Those in the treatment as usual arm are not being asked to engage in anything additional to their regular treatment plan. They will, however, be given the option to participate in the psychological intervention after the study has ended, if they elect to do so.

## Interventions

- **Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) combined with Breathing Pattern Retraining (BPR)** (BEHAVIORAL) — Study participants in the experimental arm of the study are being asked to take part in a 6-week, virtual, psychological therapy group involving compassion focused therapy and breathing pattern retraining. This group involves exercises in practicing self-compassion, emotional regulation, and breathing retraining. Each group session lasts less than two hours, per week.

## Primary Outcomes

- **Overall Distress Score** _(time frame: 12 weeks post completion of intervention)_ — The primary outcome is the patient's overall distress score, based on the Distress Thermometer (DT)

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Changes in depressive symptoms** _(time frame: 12 weeks post completion of intervention)_
- **Changes in anxiety symptoms** _(time frame: 12 weeks post completion of intervention)_
- **Changes in traumatic distress** _(time frame: 12 weeks post completion of intervention)_
- **Mental Adjustment to Cancer Recurrence** _(time frame: 12 weeks post completion of intervention)_

## Locations (1)

- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland — _RECRUITING_

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.mater misericordiae university hospital|dublin||ireland` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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