A cancer diagnosis can change any life forever. It can be especially painful for young people who have already taken steps toward independence.
However, there are few evidence-based interventions that can help solve problems and reduce stress in this age group. To address this gap, Rutgers University researchers tested the effectiveness of Bright IDEAS, a cognitive behavioral therapy-based problem-solving skills training intervention, in reducing depression and anxiety and improving overall health-related quality of life in people ages 18 to 39, defined by the National Cancer Institute as “young adults.”
Their research is JAMA network openfound that young people who participated in the Bright IDEAS program had significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and improved quality of life compared to members of the control group.
Bright IDEAS participants felt less overwhelmed and more empowered. This shows that a relatively short intervention by a trained professional can have a significant impact on a patient’s health. ”
Katie Devine, associate director of the New Jersey Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Research Center at Rutgers Cancer Institute, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in New Jersey in collaboration with RWJBarnabas Health.
Bright IDEAS teaches a five-step tactical approach to problem solving in a positive context (e.g., “bright”) (IDEAS is an acronym for Steps of Problem Solving: Identify the problem, define options, evaluate options, take action, and see if it worked).
“The goal is that by improving problem-solving skills, young people can improve their ability to identify and deal with problems, thereby reducing symptoms of distress and improving quality of life,” said Devine, an author of the study and an associate professor at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine at Rutgers University.
The Bright IDEAS intervention is completed in six video sessions with a certified mental health professional or supervised trainee trained to deliver the Bright IDEAS program.
“In each session, they explore problems to address challenges and identify solutions,” Devine says. “Instead of feeling overwhelmed with how to deal with what is happening to us, we have the power to manage stressors.”
The study included 344 young adults between the ages of 18 and 39 who were receiving systemic therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplants, at Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa within four months of their initial cancer diagnosis.
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in which half of the participants received Bright IDEAS and the other half received usual psychosocial care with social worker visits and resources. Participants completed surveys to measure symptoms 3 and 6 months after enrollment.
“We next plan to test Bright IDEAS in community oncology settings, where most young people receive treatment, to make Bright IDEAS more accessible to patients who cannot access large-city cancer centers,” Devine said.
Other Rutgers authors involved in the study include Sharon Mann, Kristin Lebonyan-Radloff, Shenguo Li, and Pamela Orman Strickland.
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Reference magazines:
Divine, K.A. others. (2026). Bright IDEAS-YA skills training and psychosocial outcomes in young cancer patients. JAMA network open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7997. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2847994
