Brief CBT for Anxiety and Advanced Cancer
Anxiety, Depression, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Anxiety focused on measuring anxiety, depression, quality of life, psychosocial effects of cancer and its treatment, advanced cancer, metastatic cancer, stage IV cancer, cognitive behavioral therapy
Eligibility Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Diagnosis of incurable solid tumor cancers
- At least four weeks post-diagnosis
Current symptoms of anxiety and anxiety as principal psychiatric problem
- Patients with co-morbid depression are eligible as long as anxiety symptoms are primary
- Concurrent pharmacotherapy for anxiety allowed
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Delirium or dementia
- Active and untreated major psychiatric condition such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, other psychotic disorders, or substance dependence
- Other inability to complete informed consent process or study procedures
Sites / Locations
- Massachusetts General Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Intervention - CBT
Routine Care Control
Participants randomized to the intervention group received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety after completing a baseline assessment consisting of clinician administered psychiatric evaluations and a psychosocial self-report battery. After completing the CBT intervention, consisting of 6-7 sessions over the course of 2-3 months, participants completed a post-intervention assessment identical to the baseline.
Participants randomized to the control condition completed a baseline assessment consisting of clinician administered psychiatric evaluations and a psychosocial self-report battery. They then received routine medical care. After 2 months and after completing the post clinical assessment identical to the baseline, they were offered the opportunity to receive the CBT intervention for free. This ensured that all participants ultimately received cognitive-behavioral therapy if desired, while permitting an examination of the effect size for the intervention compared to routine care.