The goal of this three arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial is to learn if an exergame-acceptance and commitment therapy (e-ACT) program can treat depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients, compared to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) alone and treatment-as-usual. The main question it aims to answer is:
Is there a difference in the effectiveness of the e-ACT program in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms, cancer-related fatigue, experiential avoidance, and serum IL-6 levels, while increasing BDNF and improving posttraumatic growth and quality of life among breast cancer patients, compared to ACT alone and treatment-as-usual, measured at baseline, 8 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 weeks after the intervention (follow-up)?
Researchers will compare the e-ACT group, the ACT-alone group, and the treatment-as-usual group to see if the e-ACT program yields superior outcomes in reducing psychological distress and improving well-being.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) e-ACT (exergame + ACT), (2) ACT alone, or (3) treatment-as-usual (general patient education).
Attend an 8-week program (one session per week) if in the e-ACT or ACT group; the control group continues their usual care.
Complete questionnaires at three time points (baseline, 8 weeks, and 20 weeks) to assess depression, anxiety, quality of life, posttraumatic growth, valued living, experiential avoidance, and cancer-related fatigue.
Provide blood samples at pre-intervention and post-intervention (week 8) for analysis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) biomarkers.