Actively Recruiting
A New Psychotherapy Intervention for Older Cancer Patients
Led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Updated on 2026-04-17
459
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
330 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This study is being done to see if a new psychotherapy intervention called Cancer and Aging: Reflections for Elders (CARE) can effectively treat depression and distress in older cancer patients. CARE is a 5-session intervention that takes place over the phone. This study will compare CARE with the Social Work and Supportive Counseling (SWSC) intervention, which also takes place over the phone. SWSC is a standard psychotherapeutic intervention that has been shown to be a supportive and effective form of treatment for distress for patients with cancer. The researchers will look at which intervention is more effective in treating depression and distress in participants.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A New Psychotherapy Intervention for Older Cancer Patients
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 70 years or older by self-report or medical record
- Diagnosis of cancer by self-report or medical record
- Currently receiving active treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, hormone), or received active treatment within past 6 months, or on active surveillance with follow-ups about every 6 months
- Scored at least 6 on HADS Depression or Anxiety subscale, or at least 4 on the distress thermometer (not applicable for training participants)
- Karnofsky Performance Rating Scale score of 60 or higher (not applicable for training participants)
- Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Scale score of 11 or less (not applicable for training participants)
- Fluent in English, self-reported as "well" or "very well"
You will not qualify if you...
- Taking antidepressant medication for less than 3 months
- Currently receiving hospice care
- Unable to provide informed consent or complete study sessions and assessments
- Current untreated major psychotic disorder (schizotypal personality disorder, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder)
- Patients with major psychiatric disorders will be reviewed by the study principal investigator before consent
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States, 10065
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
W
William Breitbart, MD
CONTACT
R
Rebecca Saracino, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Number of Arms
2
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