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. 2020 Feb;29(2):430-436.
doi: 10.1002/pon.5283. Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Identifying the key characteristics of clinical fear of cancer recurrence: An international Delphi study

Brittany Mutsaers  1 , Phyllis Butow  2 , Andreas Dinkel  3 , Gerald Humphris  4 , Christine Maheu  5 , Gozde Ozakinci  4 , Judith Prins  6 , Louise Sharpe  2 , Allan Ben Smith  7 , Belinda Thewes  2 , Sophie Lebel  1
Affiliations

Identifying the key characteristics of clinical fear of cancer recurrence: An international Delphi study

Brittany Mutsaers et al. Psychooncology. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Without an agreed-upon set of characteristics that differentiate clinical from nonclinical levels of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), it is difficult to ensure that FCR severity is appropriately measured, and that those in need of intervention are identified. The objective of this study was to establish expert consensus on the defining features of clinical FCR.

Method: A three-round Delphi was used to reach consensus on the defining features of clinical FCR. Sixty-five experts in FCR (researchers, psychologists, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals) were recruited to suggest and rate potential features of clinical FCR. Participants who indicated they could communicate diagnoses within their clinical role were also asked to consider the application of established DSM-5 and proposed ICD-11 diagnostic criteria (Health Anxiety, Illness Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptom Disorder) to clinical FCR.

Results: Participants' ratings suggested that the following four features are key characteristics of clinical FCR: (a) high levels of preoccupation; (b) high levels of worry; (c) that are persistent; and (d) hypervigilance to bodily symptoms. Of participants whose professional role allowed them to diagnose mental disorders, 84% indicated it would be helpful to diagnose clinical FCR, but the use of established diagnostic criteria related to health anxiety or somatic-related disorders to clinical FCR was not supported. This suggests that participants consider clinical FCR as a presentation that is specific to cancer survivors.

Conclusion: Clinical FCR was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct. Further research is needed to empirically validate the proposed defining features.

Keywords: Delphi; cancer; definition; expert consensus; fear of cancer recurrence; oncology.

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References

REFERENCES

    1. Simard S, Thewes B, Humphris G, et al. Fear of cancer recurrence in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review of quantitative studies. J Cancer Surviv. 2013;7(3):300-322.
    1. Lebel S, Ozakinci G, Humphris G, et al. From normal response to clinical problem: definition and clinical features of fear of cancer recurrence. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(8):3265-3268.
    1. Dinkel A, Herschbach P. Fear of progression in cancer patients and survivors. In: Goerling, Mehnert A, editors. Psycho-Oncology. Vol. 210. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018.
    1. Smith AB, Sharpe L, Thewes B, et al. Medical, demographic and psychological correlates of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) morbidity in breast, colorectal and melanoma cancer survivors with probable clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear study. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26:4207-3216.
    1. Lebel S, Tomei C, Feldstain A, Beattie S, McCallum M. Does fear of cancer recurrence predict cancer survivors' health care use? Support Care Cancer. 2013;21(3):901-906.

Supplementary concepts