Training in Evidence-based Treatments in Psycho-Oncology

NCT ID: NCT05674357

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

115 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-01-09

Study Completion Date

2029-01-01

Brief Summary

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The goal of this research study is to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to patients and caregivers with elevated levels of distress.

The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
* Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
* Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
* Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP)
* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
* CBT for other cancer-related physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, and nausea.

Participation in this research study is expected to last about 26 weeks.

It is expected that about 75 patients, 25 caregivers, and 15 therapists will take part in this research study.

Detailed Description

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This is a single-arm, behavioral intervention study to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to patients and caregivers with elevated levels of distress related to their illness, treatment and/or caregiving responsibilities. For participants with cancer and their caregivers, common treatment goals include improving health behaviors, reducing psychological symptoms that may exacerbate medical disability, and/or improving functional status.

Research procedures include screening for eligibility, completion of surveys and questionnaires, and virtual or in-person therapy sessions.

The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
* Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
* Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
* Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP)
* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
* CBT for other cancer-related physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, and nausea.

Participation in this research study is expected to last about 26 weeks.

It is expected that about 75 patients, 25 caregivers, and 15 therapists will take part in this research study.

Patient or caregiver participants will be those who a) are currently receiving oncology care, including active treatment and/or surveillance, or caring for someone currently receiving oncology care, b) report elevated levels of distress (≥ 3 on the NCCN Distress Thermometer), c) report that their distress or presenting concerns are related to their illness, their treatment(s), and/or their caregiving experience and d) have a clinical presentation that matches an evidence-based treatment (e.g., CBT-I for insomnia/sleep disturbance) for cancer-related distress per the therapist and the supervising therapist's discretion. The investigators aim to recruit up to 75 patient and 25 caregiver participants to this study over the course of 5 years. Therapist participants will be fellows or residents in the Mass General's Center for Psychiatric Oncology \& Behavioral Sciences. The investigators aim to include up to 15 therapist participants over the course of this 5-year study. The study period for therapist participation would be up to 3 years, and would end either at a) 3 years, b) the point at which the therapist obtains licensure and transitions to faculty member, c) the time the therapist leaves MGH.

Conditions

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Distress, Emotional Depression, Anxiety Fatigue Pain Insomnia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

There will be two groups in this study- one is patient and caregiver participants (n=100) and the other is therapist participants (n=15). Therapist participants will deliver evidence-based therapy treatments to patients participants. Outcomes in each group will not be compared to each other.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

There will be two groups in this study- one is patient and caregiver participants (n=100) and the other is therapist participants (n=15). Therapist participants will deliver evidence-based therapy treatments to patients participants. Outcomes in each group will not be compared to each other.

Study Groups

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Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Patients and Caregivers)

This arm will enroll patient and caregiver participants receiving evidence-based therapy as part of the protocol.

Participants will complete:

* 6-16 sessions of therapy 1x/week. Sessions are virtual or in-person at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.
* Surveys and questionnaires pre- and post-treatment.

At the discretion of the therapist and the supervising therapist, the participant may receive up to 4 booster sessions after completion of the specific treatment protocol.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Patients and Caregivers)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
* Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
* Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
* Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP)
* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
* CBT for pain
* CBT for fatigue
* CBT for nausea

Training in Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Therapists)

This arm will enroll therapist participants as part of the protocol. Therapists participants will enroll in the study and receive training in delivering evidence-based therapy to patients in the cancer center. Therapists will complete pre and post-measures of therapist self-efficacy and competence, as well as a semi-structured exit interview.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Training in Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Therapists)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enrolled therapist participants will receive training in evidence-based therapies and deliver therapy to patient and caregiver participants.

Interventions

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Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Patients and Caregivers)

The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient or caregiver and referring problem.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
* Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
* Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
* Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP)
* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
* CBT for pain
* CBT for fatigue
* CBT for nausea

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Training in Individualized Evidence-Based Therapy in Cancer (Therapists)

Enrolled therapist participants will receive training in evidence-based therapies and deliver therapy to patient and caregiver participants.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults \> 18 years of age.
* Currently receiving oncology treatment/care at the MGH Cancer Center, including active treatment and/or surveillance.
* Reports elevated levels of distress on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer \> 3.
* Reports distress or presenting problem is related to patients' illness and/or treatment (e.g., cancer treatment).
* Has a clinical presentation that matches an evidence-based treatment (e.g., CBT-I for insomnia/sleep disturbance) for cancer-related distress per therapist and supervising therapist discretion.
* Located in the state of Massachusetts for the duration of sessions.


* Adults \> 18 years of age
* Currently caring for someone receiving oncology treatment/care at the MGH Cancer Center, including active treatment and/or surveillance
* Reports elevated levels of distress on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer \> 3
* Reports distress or presenting problem is related to caregiving
* Has a clinical presentation that matches an evidence-based treatment (e.g., CBT-I for insomnia/sleep disturbance) for caregiving-related distress per therapist and supervising therapist discretion
* Located in the state of Massachusetts for the duration of sessions


-Current appointment as a clinical psychology fellow or psychiatry resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital or equivalent designation.

Exclusion Criteria

* Has uncontrolled psychosis, active suicidal ideation, or psychiatric hospitalization within the past year (assessed through EHR review and screening session using the QuickSCID-5), indicating the need for tailored treatment referral to specialty mental healthcare outside of psycho-oncology or to a higher level of care such as an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
* Has a cognitive impairment that prohibits participation in the study (assessed through EHR review and screening session).
* Currently participating in group or individual evidence-based psychotherapy treatment or other psychosocial intervention trial.
* Has an alcohol or substance dependence (other than nicotine dependence) in the past 8 weeks (assessed through EHR review and screening session using the QuickSCID-5), indicating the need for tailored treatment referral to specialty mental healthcare outside of psycho-oncology or to a higher level of care such as an intensive outpatient program (IOP).


-Obtained licensure as a clinical psychologist in any state.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jamie Jacobs

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Jamie Jacobs, Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

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Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Jamie Jacobs, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

617-643-1777

Amy Clara, PsyD

Role: CONTACT

617-643-1777

Facility Contacts

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Jamie Jacobs, Ph.D

Role: primary

617-643-1777

Other Identifiers

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22-517

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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