Home-based cognitive behavioural therapy for families of young children with cancer (FAMOS): A nationwide randomised controlled trial

Hanin Salem, Anne E. Kazak, Elisabeth Wreford Andersen, Federica Belmonte, Christoffer Johansen, Kjeld Schmiegelow, Jeanette Falck Winther, Peder Skov Wehner, Henrik Hasle, Steen Rosthøj, Pernille E. Bidstrup*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Introduction: Evidence-based knowledge is needed to reduce psychological symptoms in families of young children with cancer after treatment ends. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a psychotherapeutic intervention, FAMily-Oriented Support (FAMOS) on parents of young children after cancer treatment. Methods: All families of children aged 0-6 years who had been treated for cancer at one of the four paediatric oncology departments in Denmark were invited to participate after ending intensive medical treatment. The families were randomly assigned 1:1 to up to seven sessions of FAMOS, a cognitive-behavioural manualised home intervention, for 6 months or to usual psychosocial care. The primary outcome was parents’ symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 6 and 12 months after enrolment. The secondary outcomes were parents’ symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results: We enrolled 109 families (204 parents). Parents in the intervention group did not show a statistically significant decrease in symptoms of PTSD as compared with the control group at 6 months (predicted mean difference, −0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.19, 0.01), but a statistically significant decrease was seen at 12 months (predicted mean difference, −0.15; 95% CI −0.28, −0.02), and they had significantly lower symptoms of depression at both 6 and 12 months. Differences in reductions in symptoms of anxiety were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The FAMOS intervention reduced parents’ symptoms of PTSD and depression. Next step is to also report on psychological effects in the children and siblings (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02200731).

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere28853
JournalPediatric Blood and Cancer
Volume68
Issue number3
Number of pages12
ISSN1545-5009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • cancer
  • cognitive behavioural psychotherapy
  • depression
  • family
  • posttraumatic stress disorder
  • randomised controlled trial

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