NCT00494910

Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Psychotherapy Interventions for Cancer Patients

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Psychotherapy Interventions for Cancer Patients

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 253 (actual)
• Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two types of group counseling for cancer patients: Meaning-Centered counseling and Supportive counseling. 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. "Meaning-Centered" group counseling is intended to teach cancer patients how to maintain or even increase a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives, despite cancer. "Supportive" group counseling is intended to help you cope with cancer by giving you a place to express your feelings and get support from other cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to compare the benefits of these two types of counseling approaches for cancer patients.

Detailed description

To conduct a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) versus a standardized Supportive Group Psychotherapy (SGP) in reducing psychological distress (depression and anxiety), end-of-life despair (hopelessness, desire for hastened death, and suicidal ideation), and improving spiritual well-being and overall quality of life in a sample patients with advanced cancer. To assess the relative impact of Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy on different aspects of spiritual well-being (e.g., a sense of meaning and purpose versus spirituality linked to religious faith). To examine clinical and demographic variables that may correspond to differential responses to Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (e.g., potential mediating and moderating influences such as illness severity, religion and religiosity, level of education, race/ethnicity, level of pre-intervention social support, presence of pain and physical symptom burden).

Conditions

• Palliative Care

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Meaning Centered Group Psychotherapy	this eight-week (1 ½ hour weekly sessions) Session 1 - Concepts of Meaning and Sources of Meaning Session 2 - Cancer and Meaning Session 3 - Meaning and Historical Context of Life Session 4 - Storytelling, Legacy Project (optional) Session 5 - Limitations and Finiteness of Life Session 6 - Responsibility, Creativity, Deeds Session 7 - Experience, Nature, Art, Humor Session 8 - Transitions, Goodbyes, Hopes for the Future
BEHAVIORAL	Supportive Group Psychotherapy	The eight weekly 1 ½ hour sessions will focus on group discussion on a set of specific themes that emerge for patients coping with cancer. The session themes or topics will include such issues as: the discussion of strategies for coping with medical issues and procedures, communication with health care providers and issues related to family, friends, and occupational life.

Timeline

• Start date: 2007-06-26
• Primary completion: 2024-03-05
• Completion: 2024-03-05
• First posted: 2007-07-02
• Last updated: 2024-04-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States