Shelley A. Johns, PsyD, HSPP, ABPP

Contact : sheljohn@iu.edu

More people than ever are surviving cancer due to the development of targeted and effective treatments. Yet many cancer survivors are living with difficult and persistent side effects of these treatments, which can be incapacitating.

Initiatives

Care Delivery

Research Scientist, William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute
Associate Professor of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine
Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychology, Purdue School of Science
Adjunct Faculty, Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics
Board Certified Clinical Health Psychologist, Eskenazi Health Palliative Care Program
Member, Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Shelley Johns’ patient-oriented research focuses on developing and evaluating integrative behavioral interventions to address common sources of suffering for adults with cancer that can be implemented in clinical practice. Specifically, her research focuses on: (1) improving the physical and psychological health of cancer survivors with lingering treatment-related symptoms (e.g., fatigue) and other common sources of distress (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence); and (2) enhancing quality of life for patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers. Dr. Johns has been a leader in testing mindfulness-based interventions in cancer. Her research has been cited as supportive evidence for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a recommended treatment in clinical practice guidelines for fatigue by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Since completing post-doctoral training in behavioral oncology research in 2012, Dr. Johns has led or co-led 10 clinical studies funded by the National Cancer Institute, Walther Cancer Foundation, IU Health, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and Retirement Research Foundation.

Dr. Johns is a board-certified clinical health psychologist.

Featured Projects

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Fear of Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors

(NIH/NCI)

Role: Principal Investigator

This 3-arm randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy compared to cognitive behavioral therapy and to enhanced usual care in breast cancer survivors with clinically significant fear of recurrence while examining its cost-effectiveness and the mechanisms by which the intervention may work.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Fatigue Interference in Metastatic Breast Cancer

(NIH/NCI)

Role: Co-Investigator

The goal of this project is to test the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy compared to attention control in reducing fatigue interference in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Telephone Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Caregivers (TACTICs) of Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

(Indiana CTSI)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

The primary goal of this two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy for clinically anxious caregivers of adults with dementia compared to minimally enhanced usual care.

Reaching Our Colleagues: A Formative Study to Evaluate Approaches for Enhancing Wellness Among Health Care Providers at IU Health

(Indiana University Health)

Role: Co-Investigator

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to evaluate strategies for participant engagement and outcome measurement that can be applied to future large-scale healthcare provider wellness programs.

Highlighted Publications

Apr 2011

Telecare management of pain and depression in patients with cancer: patient satisfaction and predictors of use

Publication: Journal of Ambulatory Care Management

DOI: 10.1097/JAC.0b013e31820ef628

Authors: Johns SA, Kroenke K, Theobald DE, Wu J, Tu W

Jan 2013

Longitudinal comparison of three depression measures in adult cancer patients

Publication: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.12.284

Authors: Johns SA, Kroenke K, Krebs EE, Theobald DE, Wu J, Tu W

Aug 1, 2013

Translating dignity therapy into practice: effects and lessons learned

Publication: Omega

DOI: 10.2190/OM.67.1-2.p

Authors: Johns SA

Aug 17, 2014

Randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction for persistently fatigued cancer survivors

Publication: Psycho-Oncology

DOI: 10.1002/pon.3648

Authors: Johns SA, Brown LF, Beck-Coon K, Monahan PO, Tong Y, Kroenke K

May 17, 2016

Randomized controlled pilot trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast and colorectal cancer survivors: effects on cancer-related cognitive impairment

Publication: Supportive Care in Cancer

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3220-4

Authors: Johns SA, Von Ah D, Brown LF, Beck-Coon K, Talib TL, Alyea JM, Monahan PO, Tong Y, Wilhelm L, Giesler RB

Oct 2016

Randomized controlled pilot trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction compared to psychoeducational support for persistently fatigued breast and colorectal cancer survivors

Publication: Supportive Care in Cancer

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3220-4

Authors: Johns SA, Brown LF, Beck-Coon K, Talib TL, Monahan PO, Giesler RB, Tong Y, Wilhelm L, Carpenter JS, Von Ah D, Wagner CD, de Groot M, Schmidt K, Monceski D, Danh M, Alyea JM, Miller KD, Kroenke K

Feb 2020

Mindfulness Training Supports Quality of Life and Advance Care Planning in Adults With Metastatic Cancer and Their Caregivers: Results of a Pilot Study

Publication: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

DOI: 10.1177/1049909119862254

Authors: Johns SA, Beck-Coon K, Stutz PV, Talib TL, Chinh K, Cottingham AH, Schmidt K, Shields C, Stout ME, Stump TE, Monahan PO, Torke AM, Helft PR

Sep 20, 2019

Acceptance and commitment therapy for breast cancer survivors with fear of cancer recurrence: A 3-arm pilot randomized controlled trial

Publication: Cancer

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32518

Authors: Johns SA, Stutz PV, Talib TL, Cohee AA, Beck-Coon KA, Brown LF, Wilhelm LR, Monahan PO, LaPradd ML, Champion VL, Miller KD, Giesler RB

Apr 2021

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on fatigue in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Publication: Critical Reviews in Oncology and Hematology

DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103290

Authors: Johns SA, Tarver WL, Secinti E, Mosher CE, Stutz PV, Carnahan JL, Talib TL, Shanahan ML, Faidley MT, Kidwell KM, Rand KL

Jan 2021

Breast cancer survivors’ perceptions of their partners’ interest in cancer-focused psychosocial interventions

Publication: Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice

doi: 10.1097/OR9.0000000000000042

Authors: Cohee, A.A., Krueger, E.F., Vachon, E.A., Cottingham, A.H, Stutz, P.V., Alwine, J.S., & Johns, S.A.

Jul 2021

The mediating role of avoidant coping in the relationships between physical, psychological, and social wellbeing and distress in breast cancer survivors

Publication: Psycho-Oncology

DOI: 10.1002/pon.5663

Authors: Cohee A, Johns SA, Alwine JS, Talib T, Monahan PO, Stump TE, Cella D, Champion VL

Feb 16, 2021

Feasibility and acceptability of an acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Publication: BMC Geriatrics

DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02078-0

Authors: Fowler NR, Judge KS, Lucas K, Gowan T, Stutz P, Shan M, Wilhelm L, Parry T, Johns SA

In The News

Influence

Featured Fellowship

People

InfluencePrevalence of Unrecognized Cognitive Impairment in Federally Qualified Health Centers

NewsBrian Dixon named director of biomedical informatics at Regenstrief Institute

NewsResearchers to study online therapy’s potential to prevent cognitive decline in ICU survivors

NewsDementia risk prediction: Zero-minute assessment at less than a dollar cost

NewsRegenstrief Institute researcher appointed associate dean for research at IU Indianapolis Fairbanks School of Public Health

Brian Dixon named director of biomedical informatics...

Shelley A. Johns, PsyD, HSPP, ABPP

Featured Projects

Highlighted Publications