Cancer Counseling for Elderly Patients with Cancer

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen by Christian Nelson, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine whether psychoeducation counseling for older cancer patients undergoing treatment is feasible and worthwhile. The investigators will test this in a group or individual phone counseling format. Many cancer patients seek counseling to help with the emotional burden of their illnesses. Counseling often helps them cope with cancer by giving them a place to express their feelings. This geriatric-specific psychoeducation is intended to help older cancer patients cope with the burden of cancer and aging. The purpose of this study is to see if this type of counseling helps reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, perception of loneliness and isolation. In addition this counseling aims to improve coping and quality of life (QOL). Individuals who choose not to take part in the intervention study will be asked if they are willing to participate in a brief refusal sub study. The purpose of the refusal substudy is to compare levels of distress in patients that choose to participate and those that decline. This will yield valuable data that will help us distinguish between patients that decline due to lack of interest in research and those that decline due to high levels of distress. Participation in the refusal sub study consists of completion of 2 brief questionnaires.

Research Team

Christian Nelson, PhD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people aged 70 or older with prostate, breast, lung, lymphoma, or gynecological cancer. They must be able to communicate in English and are currently undergoing treatment or have been treated within the past 6 months. Participants should be relatively independent (Karnofsky score of 60+), mentally sharp enough to consent (BOMC ≤11), and feeling some emotional distress.

Inclusion Criteria

In the investigator's judgment, participants must have satisfactory cognitive function to provide valid informed consent and participate in Geriatric Specific Psychoeducational Intervention. The Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration test (BOMC) will be used as a cognitive screening tool. Patients must have a BOMC score of less than or equal to 11.

I can speak, write, and read in English.

I am currently undergoing or have recently undergone treatment for cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been on the same dose of antidepressants for less than 3 months.

Actively participating in protocol 07-094 or 11-021

Significant psychiatric disturbance sufficient, in the investigator's judgment, to preclude participation in the intervention (e.g., acute psychiatric symptoms which requires individual treatment).

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Expressive Writing (Behavioral Intervention)
• Group Intervention (Behavioral Intervention)
• Psychoeducation Counseling (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The study tests if psychoeducation counseling can improve quality of life for elderly cancer patients by reducing depression, anxiety, loneliness, and improving coping skills. It compares group sessions versus individual phone counseling against a control group doing expressive writing.

Participant Groups

Group I: Psychoeducational Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Expressive Writing Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group III: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Lisa M. DeAngelis

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from Columbia University

Selwyn M. Vickers

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Chief Executive Officer since 2022

MD from Johns Hopkins University

Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

110+