Actively Recruiting
A Study Comparing Music Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Cancer Survivors
Led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Updated on 2026-02-02
368
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
259 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Lead Sponsor
P
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The researchers are doing this study to compare how music therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, given virtually, may be able to reduce anxiety in people who have had cancer. In addition, this study will see if certain factors affect how well participants respond to music therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. For example, the researchers will see if personal characteristics (like age, sex, race, and education) and ways of thinking (like expectations of therapy) may affect how well participants respond.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A Study Comparing Music Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Cancer Survivors
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- English- or Spanish-speaking
- 18 years or older
- Prior cancer diagnosis of any type or stage
- Free of active cancer or stable disease with no progression
- Anxiety score of 8 or higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
- Anxiety symptoms lasting at least one month
- Willing to follow all study procedures including randomization to music therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy
- Have access to Zoom and a quiet, private location
- For advanced cancer sub-study: specific advanced cancers, currently receiving treatment or active surveillance, Karnofsky performance score 60 or higher, expected survival greater than 6 months
- For group music therapy sub-study: same as main criteria with willingness to follow study procedures
You will not qualify if you...
- Completed active cancer treatment less than one month before enrollment (except maintenance hormonal or targeted therapies)
- Active suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
- Cognitive impairment indicated by a score of 10 or higher on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration test
- Received seven or more sessions of music therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in the last six months
- Unable to provide informed consent
- For advanced cancer sub-study: plan for psychotherapy or changes in anxiety medication within the next 8 weeks or recent changes in past 4 weeks
- Prior receipt of music therapy within the past six months
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Baptist Alliance MCI
Miami, Florida, United States, 33143
Actively Recruiting
2
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States, 10065
Actively Recruiting
3
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Jun Mao, MD, MSCE
CONTACT
K
Kevin Liou, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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