Question 1

ENROLLMENT OPEN: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Emotion-Regulation Therapy for Cancer Caregivers: A Mechanism-Targeted Approach to Addressing Caregiver Distress

Accepted Answer

Principal Investigator: Allison Applebaum, PhD and Douglas Mennin, PhD

MGH Site Principal Investigator: Jamie Jacobs, PhD

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Project Number: R01CA244185

Description: This is a multisite randomized controlled trial comparing Emotion Regulation Therapy to Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce distress and burden in family and friend caregivers of patients undergoing treatment for varying cancer types and stages. Caregivers caring for patients with any type of cancer or any stage of disease are eligible to participate and will receive 8 free individual therapy sessions via videoconference. Patients are also eligible to complete surveys if their caregiver is enrolled in the trial. Enrollment is active. Learn More >

Potential participants: We are recruiting informal caregivers to patients with any site/stage of cancer who have received any type of medical treatment (e.g. curative, palliative) at MGH in the past 12 months. Eligible caregivers are experiencing distress as evidenced by a score equal or above the study-specific cutoff on the Distress Thermometer (DT) and indicate that distress is associated with the caregiving experience. Interested patients or caregivers may contact the study coordinator for more information at caregivingresearch@mgh.harvard.edu.

Question 2

ENROLLMENT CLOSED: Psychological Intervention for Caregivers of Patients with Malignant Gliomas

Accepted Answer

Principal Investigator: Deborah Forst, MD

Co-investigator: Jamie Jacobs, PhD

Funding Source: Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Description: This is a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a 6-session intervention based in cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce anxiety in caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas, in comparison with usual care. Caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas are eligible and will be randomly assigned to either the intervention (6 sessions with a therapist via videoconference) or a usual care control group.

Project Status: Recently completed; in data analysis.

Potential participants: No longer recruiting.

Research in Behavioral Medicine

Domestic Research Projects

Oncology

ENROLLMENT OPEN: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Emotion-Regulation Therapy for Cancer Caregivers: A Mechanism-Targeted Approach to Addressing Caregiver Distress

ENROLLMENT CLOSED: Psychological Intervention for Caregivers of Patients with Malignant Gliomas

Smoking

ENROLLMENT OPEN: Development of an Integrated mHealth App-Based Intervention to Support Smoking Cessation in People Living with HIV

ENROLLMENT CLOSED: Implementing a virtual tobacco treatment in community oncology practices (Smoke Free Support Study 2.0)