Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Fear of Recurrence in Ovarian Cancer Survivors. (FROCS)

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy is a group program that is generally used to delay or prevent recurrence of major depression, but may also reduce depressive symptoms. The treatment combines the clinical application of mindfulness meditation with elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and was first developed in 2000. Mindfulness is purposeful, nonjudgmental attention to the present moment, which is developed through meditation and other practices. CBT is based upon the theory that maladaptive thoughts and behaviors lead to psychopathology; the clinician and patient identify these dysfunctional cognitions and the patient tries to change the resulting problematic behaviors. There are similarities between mindfulness based cognitive therapy and CBT. Both treatments teach patients to identify triggers and symptoms of relapse such as anxiety and depression, and to develop a behavior plan for avoiding relapse. Other similarities include directing patients to observe their thoughts and to rate activities for the pleasure and sense of mastery they provide. What distinguishes mindfulness based cognitive therapy is its emphasis upon accepting dysfunctional thoughts. In contrast, CBT emphasizes changing dysfunctional thoughts by gathering evidence to dispute their validity. The MBCT course comprises 8 weekly sessions with each session being approximately 2 hours. The duration of the course is 8 weeks and the sessions take place in groups of 8-15 individuals. The groups will be run by experienced clinicians in psychotherapy, counselling and meditation and will have a clinician manual and a participant workbook outlining the themes and exercises for each week. Adherence is monitored by discussion of issues which may arise during practice of the techniques in between sessions.