FOCUS is a psychosocial oncology intervention designed to help people living with advanced cancer to self-manage symptoms including sleep, worry and anxiety, fatigue, and mood. FOCUS provides an alternative to symptom-specific medications which each have unique side effects. FOCUS is based on the most effective, evidence-based strategies used to manage these symptoms combining cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce symptoms when possible and acceptance and commitment therapy to encourage values-based living despite these symptoms. Participants in our FOCUS pilot study (Wells-Di Gregorio, 2019) demonstrated strong improvements of their sleep including falling and staying asleep, reduced worry and distress, as well as a decrease in depression beyond what is seen with most antidepressant trials. Participants also showed a change in fatigue interference – or how much fatigue interfered with their daily activities. We received funding from the National Cancer Institute (1R01CA281885-01A1) to translate this intervention to an app to enhance access for people with advanced cancer in rural communities. We will be testing this intervention between 2024-2029 for people with advanced breast, prostate, and lung cancer as well as multiple myeloma and melanoma.

 

If you are interested in learning more about this study, you can call (614) 814-1407 or email focus@osumc.edu.

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Selected Publications

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1. Wells‐Di Gregorio, S., Flowers, S., Peng, J., Marks, D. R., Probst, D., Zaleta, A., ... & Ancoli‐Israel, S. (2025). Combined Treatment With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Enhances Objective and Subjective Reports of Sleep in Patients With Advanced Cancer. Psycho‐Oncology, 34(4), e70141. Read it Here!

2. Wells‐Di Gregorio, S. M., Marks, D. R., DeCola, J., Peng, J., Probst, D., Zaleta, A., ... & Magalang, U. (2019). Pilot randomized controlled trial of a symptom cluster intervention in advanced cancer. Psycho‐oncology, 28(1), 76-84. Read it Here!