NCT07355153

Feasibility of CALM Therapy in Korean Cancer Patients

Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness of 'Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully'

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Kyungpook National University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 19 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This feasibility study examined the cultural adaptation and implementation of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) therapy for advanced cancer patients in Korea. CALM is a brief manualized individual psychotherapy designed to address psychological distress and existential concerns in patients with advanced disease.

Detailed description

This single-arm feasibility study evaluated the acceptability, tolerability, and preliminary effectiveness of CALM therapy in the Korean cultural and healthcare context. Patients with advanced or metastatic solid-tumor cancers received 3-6 individual therapy sessions over 3-6 months, delivered by trained psychiatrists. The study assessed feasibility through recruitment rates, therapy completion rates, and outcome measure completion. A mixed-methods approach included quantitative outcome measures (depression, death anxiety, attachment, quality of life, anxiety) and qualitative interviews with patients and caregivers to evaluate implementation barriers and facilitators. This study was conducted in collaboration with the developers of CALM therapy at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada. Therapists were trained through the international CALM training program, including workshop attendance and supervised training cases under the supervision of the intervention developers.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM)	CALM (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully) is a semi-structured, manualized individual psychotherapy designed for patients with advanced cancer, grounded in relational, attachment, and existential theory. CALM consists of 3-6 individual sessions (45-60 minutes each) delivered over 3-6 months by specially trained therapists. The therapy addresses four core domains: (1) symptom management and communication with healthcare providers; (2) changes in self and relations with close others; (3) sense of meaning and purpose; and (4) the future and mortality. All domains are addressed with each patient, with sequencing and emphasis tailored to individual concerns. Patients' caregivers or family members are encouraged to participate in sessions as appropriate. CALM can be delivered by trained therapists from various disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, and medicine.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-06-12
• Primary completion: 2021-06-12
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2026-01-21
• Last updated: 2026-01-21

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: South Korea