Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for Psychosocial Support for Cancer Patients

Study Description

Brief Summary: This is an international, 3-site trial (Winnipeg Canada, MSKCC NYC, Perth Australia) accruing 120 patients per site (120x3). The purpose of this study is to compare two types of counseling for cancer patients: "Dignity Psychotherapy" and "Supportive Psychotherapy" as well as "Standard Palliative Care." 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. We, the investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, have developed a type of counseling we call "Dignity Psychotherapy." It is intended to help cancer patients maintain or enhance a sense of purpose, meaning, and overall quality of life, despite having cancer. "Supportive Psychotherapy" is another type of counseling intended to help patients feel more at ease and express and reflect on any feelings or concerns they might have about their illness. Both of these types of counseling will be compared to "Standard Palliative Care." We will look at how these types of treatments affect patients' mood, outlook, and quality of life. We also want to see how the type of treatment they receive affects their family members and significant others.

Detailed Description: Primary Objective: * To establish the efficacy of a new and unique individual, brief intervention we call "Dignity Psychotherapy" in enhancing a sense of meaning, purpose and overall well-being for patients with advanced, end stage cancer. Secondary Objectives: * To compare the effectiveness of "Dignity Psychotherapy" with "Supportive Psychotherapy" and "Standard Palliative Care" in bolstering the patients' sense of meaning, purpose, generativity, and overall sense of dignity and quality of life, while lessening hopelessness, sense of being a burden to others, and suffering. * To explore the impact "Dignity Psychotherapy" has on the bereavement experience of those family members/significant others taking part in this arm of the study protocol. * To compare the bereavement experience of bereaved family members/significant others whose loved ones took part in any one of the three study conditions.

Keywords

Eligibility

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Eligible Ages: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Sex: ALL

Healthy Volunteers: No

Locations

Contact Details

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