Training in Evidence-based Treatments in Psycho-Oncology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
The goal of this research study is to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to patients and caregivers with elevated levels of distress. The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem. * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) * Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) * Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) * Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) * Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) * CBT for other cancer-related physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, and nausea. Participation in this research study is expected to last about 26 weeks. It is expected that about 75 patients, 25 caregivers, and 15 therapists will take part in this research study.
Description
This is a single-arm, behavioral intervention study to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to patients and caregivers with elevated levels of distress related to their illness, treatment and/or caregiving responsibilities. For participants with cancer and their caregivers, common treatment goals include improving health behaviors, reducing psychological symptoms that may exacerbate medical disability, and/or improving functional status. Research procedures include screening for eligibility, completion of surveys and quest…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Patient Inclusion Criteria: * Adults \> 18 years of age. * Currently receiving oncology treatment/care at the MGH Cancer Center, including active treatment and/or surveillance. * Reports elevated levels of distress on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer \> 3. * Reports distress or presenting problem is related to patients' illness and/or treatment (e.g., cancer treatment). * Has a clinical presentation that matches an evidence-based treatment (e.g., CBT-I for insomnia/sleep disturbance) for cancer-related distress per therapist and supervising therapist discr…
Interventions
- BehavioralIndividualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Patients and Caregivers)
The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem. * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) * Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) * Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) * Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) * Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) * CBT for pain * CBT for fatigue * CBT for nausea
- BehavioralTraining in Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Therapists)
Enrolled therapist participants will receive training in evidence-based therapies and deliver therapy to patient and caregiver participants.
Location
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterBoston, Massachusetts