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Meditation Therapy for Cancer-Related Anxiety and Depression

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Gabriel Lopez

Research Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

Diagnosis of a formal thought disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up up to 2 weeks

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing how well self-administered meditation therapy can help improve anxiety and depression in cancer patients who are experiencing psychosocial distress.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for cancer patients at MD Anderson who are currently in treatment or have finished it, can read and understand English, consent to participate, and can visit the Texas Medical Center. They should feel some anxiety or depression but not be severely affected (scores between 4-11 on ESAS). If they're taking anxiety meds, doses must be stable for six weeks with no changes expected soon.

What is being tested?

The study is testing if meditation therapy helps reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients feeling psychosocial distress. It involves self-administered techniques like deep breathing to improve mental well-being and quality of life during or after cancer treatment.

What are the potential side effects?

Meditation therapy generally has minimal side effects; however, participants may experience increased emotional sensitivity or discomfort when confronting difficult feelings during practice.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I have been diagnosed with a thought disorder like schizophrenia.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ up to 2 weeks

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~up to 2 weeks

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Feasibility of self-administered meditation

Secondary study objectives

Frequency of meditation and choice of length of meditation

Anxiety

The study will evaluate participant satisfaction with the meditation delivery and tracking program using appropriate descriptive statistics.

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Group I (meditation)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions

Patients watch a pre-recorded instructional meditation video via an iPod meditation app. Patients then complete meditation exercises using the meditation app over 5-15 minutes QD for up to 2 weeks. Patients also complete questionnaires before and after meditation sessions and participate in an interview over 10 minutes.

Group II: Group II (waitlist control)Active Control3 Interventions

Patients receive supportive care, such as access to social workers, support groups, spiritual care, or other patient services for up to 2 weeks. Patients also complete questionnaires over 15-20 minutes and participate in an interview over 10 minutes.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Meditation Therapy

2018

N/A

~50

Quality-of-Life Assessment

2017

Completed Phase 3

~4950