A Daily, Digital Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Depressive Symptoms After Serious Medical Illness
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Summary
The purpose of this study is to develop and test a new intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in post-treatment cancer participants.
Description
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), including Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), reduce depressive symptoms in medically ill populations, including cancer survivors. However, MBIs have limitations, and if improved, could dramatically increase their clinical reach and impact. Most standardized MBIs are group-based, time intensive, difficult to scale, and can be costly. Thus, only a small portion of patients ever engage with MBIs. Digital approaches to delivering mindfulness content (apps and brief MBIs) have shown promise for addressing these barriers to accessibility and scalabili…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Not specified
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Self-reported mild to moderately-severe symptoms of depression (score 5-19 on PHQ-9). 2. A diagnosis of stage 0-III breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer. 3. Completion of primary cancer treatment within 2 years (excludes hormone therapy). 4. An ability to provide informed consent. 5. An ability to read and speak English. 6. Access to a web-enabled device (phone, tablet, computer). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Self-reported minimal and severe depressive symptoms (\<4 and \> 20 on PHQ-9). 2. Self-reported suicidal ideation (\>1 on item 9 PHQ-9). 3. Another psychological, me…
Interventions
- BehavioralMINDSET
Participants randomized to MINDSET will receive a text message at their preferred time each day for 8 weeks containing a link to the 15-minute audio content. At the end of each week (on day 7), participants will receive a second link to the weekly survey in the text. Participants will be able to play the audio content on their device by clicking the first link and access the weekly survey by clicking the second.
- BehavioralEnhanced Usual Care (EUC)
Participants will receive a 1-page brochure summarizing publicly available information on depression self-care strategies via text each week for 8 weeks on the same day they receive the text message containing a link to the weekly survey (day 7). This information will come from the Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment booklet from the National Cancer Institute.38 Weekly topics will include: 1) Reducing stress; 2) Coping with stress; 3) Coping with depression; 4) Feeling angry; 5) Feeling alone; 6) Finding meaning after treatment; 7) Social relationships; and 8) Seeking support. These materials do not include any content on mindfulness or cognitive therapy.
Location
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic FoundationCleveland, Ohio