Abstract 797: Cognitive behavioral and acceptance-commitment therapies in the management of suicidal ideation among cancer patients in the Southwest, Nigeria
Authors: Blessing Oyindamola Olunloyo, Chioma C. Asuzu
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Background: Suicidal ideation is a behavioral and emotional response arising from different psychosocial distresses experienced by patients at oncologic care continuum. Previous studies concentrated on suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults with little focus on suicidal ideation among cancer patients and management through psychological interventions. Purpose: This study therefore examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and Acceptance-Commitment Therapies (ACT) in the management of suicidal ideation (SI) among cancer patients in the Southwest Nigeria. The moderating effects of anxiety and depression were evaluated. Methods: The study was anchored on Three-Step Theory and adopted the mixed methods research design involving a pretest-posttest, control group, quasi-experimental design with a 3×3×3 factorial matrix. A multistage sampling procedure involving simple random and purposive sampling techniques was employed in the selection of states, study sites and participants. Three states in the Southwest (Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states) were randomly selected and a teaching hospital (Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Ogun and University College Hospital, Oyo) which renders oncologic services was purposively selected. Cancer patients were purposively selected and randomly assigned to CBT (17), ACT (22) and control (15) groups. The instruments used were Suicidal Ideation Attribute scale (α=0.75), Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Jr (α= 0.87), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (α=0.94 for HADS-A and α=0.92 for HADS-D). Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, Analysis of Covariance and Bonferroni post-hoc test at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Participants were within 40 and 65 age range (63.0%) and are mostly females (77.8%). There was significant main effect of treatments (CBT and ACT) in the management of SI among the participants (F2, 34 = 76.783; ῆ2 = 0.819). However, participants in CBT (64.678) benefitted more than those in ACT (65.204) and control groups (87.078). The main effect of anxiety was significant (F2, 34 = 9.012, ῆ2 = .346) on SI and depression was also tested to have a significant main effect on SI among respondents, (F2, 34 = 6.551, ῆ2 = .278). A significant interaction effect of treatment and anxiety (F (4, 34) = 3.282, ῆ2 =.279) on SI and a significant interaction effect of treatment and depression (F (4, 34) = 4.948, ῆ2 =.368) on SI were discovered. The significant effect of anxiety and depression on SI among cancer patients (F3, 34) = 5.458, ῆ2 = .325) was further revealed. Conclusion: CBT and ACT were effective in the management of suicidal ideation among cancer patients. Clinical psychologists and Psychooncologists should adopt these therapies in provision of psychosocial care to cancer patients. Citation Format: Blessing Oyindamola Olunloyo, Chioma C. Asuzu. Cognitive behavioral and acceptance-commitment therapies in the management of suicidal ideation among cancer patients in the Southwest, Nigeria [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 797.