Brief Behavioral Activation for the Treatment of Depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out if a psychotherapy method called behavioral activation (BA) can be successfully delivered by telephone or videoconference (remotely) and can effectively treat depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors (OACS)

Eligibility

Age range: 65+ years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Yes

Detailed criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * As per self-report or medical record, ≥65 years old * As per self-report or medical record, has a history of cancer * As per medical record and/or clinician confirmation: * a patient in MSK Survivorship Clinics AND/OR * no evidence of disease (NED) AND/OR * 6 months or more post-treatment (patients on maintenance hormonal therapies are eligible) * Fluent in English, as per self-reported fluency of "well" or "very well"\* * As per self-report, able to communicate over video-conference and/or phone for sessions * Elevated score on the PHQ-9: ≥5 (N/A for Training Cas…

Interventions

Behavioral
Behavioral Activation
Sessions for both arms (BP \& SP) will be administered remotely via video-conference and/or telephone (per patient preference) at the following timeline: * Full participants (not training cases): Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered approximately weekly over a 10-week period (+10 weeks). * Training case participants: Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered over an approximately 5-week period (+10 weeks).
Behavioral
Supportive Psychotherapy
Sessions for both arms (BP \& SP) will be administered remotely via video-conference and/or telephone (per patient preference) at the following timeline: * Full participants (not training cases): Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered approximately weekly over a 10-week period (+10 weeks). * Training case participants: Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered over an approximately 5-week period (+10 weeks).

Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)
New York, New York
646-888-0263

Eligibility

Age range

65+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Detailed criteria

Interventions

Behavioral

Behavioral Activation

Sessions for both arms (BP \& SP) will be administered remotely via video-conference and/or telephone (per patient preference) at the following timeline: * Full participants (not training cases): Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered approximately weekly over a 10-week period (+10 weeks). * Training case participants: Ten sessions (30-50 minutes each) will be delivered over an approximately 5-week period (+10 weeks).

Behavioral

Supportive Psychotherapy