Can a 5-Minute phone exercise ease cancer Survivors' distress?
NCT ID NCT07160439
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tested short, digital exercises (called micro-interventions) designed to reduce distress and improve well-being in breast cancer survivors. 120 women who had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in the past 5 years and had mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression took part. The goal was to see if these quick, low-effort tools were acceptable and helpful for managing daily emotional challenges.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Digital micro-interventions (brief behavioral and cognitive exercises delivered via technology)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a convenient, low-burden way for breast cancer survivors to manage stress and improve mental health at home.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage pilot study with no control group, so results may not be definitive. The interventions are very brief and may not help everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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120 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2025
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age = 18 years. * 0-5 years post-diagnosis of Stage I, II, or III female breast cancer. * Elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety as measured by the PHQ-8 (score \> 9) or GAD-7 (score \> 7). Exclusion Criteria: * Receiving individual (1 on 1) treatment for depression and/or anxiety to avoid treatment interference (note, individuals will be permitted to enroll if they are taking antidepressant medication and have not had an appointment to adjust the dosage over the past 2 weeks) * Active suicidal ideation during the enrollment/screening call based on a trained staff member orally administering the suicidality item from the PHQ-9 to individuals on the phone ("In the last 2 weeks, have you had thoughts that you would be better off dead, or thoughts of hurting yourself in some way?"). If an individual responds in any way other than "not at all" based on the available response options (i.e., either "several days", "more than half the days", or "nearly every day"), or if they mention having suicidal ideation or thoughts of death during the enrollment/screening call, the Pitt-Optimum risk assessment tool will be administered. Only participants deemed low risk may proceed in enrollment; all will be given additional resources. * Do not have an app-compatible phone (i.e., iOS 10.3 or later or Android 4.0.3 or later). * Cannot read and speak English (interventions only available in English).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22904, United States
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