A Study of Brief Behavioral Activation for the Treatment of Depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors

Description

The purpose of this study is to find out if a psychotherapy method called behavioral activation (BA) can be successfully delivered by telephone or videoconference (remotely) and can effectively treat depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors (OACS)

Conditions

Survivorship

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of this study is to find out if a psychotherapy method called behavioral activation (BA) can be successfully delivered by telephone or videoconference (remotely) and can effectively treat depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors (OACS)

Brief Behavioral Activation for the Treatment of Depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors

A Study of Brief Behavioral Activation for the Treatment of Depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors

Condition
Survivorship
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

New York

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities), New York, New York, United States, 10065

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * As per self-report or medical record, ≥65 years old
  • * As per self-report or medical record, has a history of cancer
  • * As per medical record and/or clinician confirmation:
  • * a patient in MSK Survivorship Clinics AND/OR
  • * no evidence of disease (NED) AND/OR
  • * 6 months or more post-treatment (patients on maintenance hormonal therapies are eligible)
  • * Fluent in English, as per self-reported fluency of "well" or "very well"\*
  • * As per self-report, able to communicate over video-conference and/or phone for sessions
  • * Elevated score on the PHQ-9: ≥5 (N/A for Training Case participants)
  • * Received a Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Scale (BOMC) score of ≤ 11 (N/A for Training Case participants)
  • * As per PI determination, requires a higher level of care for current passive or active suicidal ideation than current protocol is able to provide. If a participant receives a score of \> 0 on item 9 of the PHQ-9, they will be referred to study PI for further evaluation. They will be excluded from participation in this study if the PI determines they would be appropriate for a higher level of care than BA may be able to provide.
  • * As per self-report or as documented in the medical record, current untreated (e.g., no medication, no therapy) major psychotic disorder (schizotypal personality disorder, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder). Patients diagnosed with a major psychiatric disorder will be reviewed by the study PI to determine eligibility prior to consent.
  • * As per self-report or medical record, currently taking antidepressant medication for \< 3 month
  • * As per medical record, patient has impaired decision-making capacity

Ages Eligible for Study

65 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,

Rebecca Saracino, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Study Record Dates

2025-10-06