A Study Comparing Music Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Cancer Survivors

Launched by MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER · Jan 18, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of two different types of therapy—music therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—to see which one helps reduce anxiety in people who have survived cancer. Both therapies will be conducted online, so participants can join from the comfort of their own homes. The researchers are also interested in how personal factors, like age or education, might influence how well each therapy works for different individuals.

To participate, you need to be at least 18 years old, speak English or Spanish, and have a history of cancer that is currently stable or in remission. You should also be experiencing anxiety symptoms for at least a month. If you join the study, you'll be assigned to one of the two therapy groups. Participants will need to have access to a quiet space and use Zoom for the sessions. It's important to know that there are some conditions, like certain mental health issues or recent treatment changes, that would prevent someone from joining the study. Overall, this trial aims to find effective ways to help cancer survivors manage anxiety and improve their quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • English- or Spanish-speaking
• • 18 years or older
• • Prior cancer diagnosis of any type or stage
• • Free of oncological disease, or stable disease with no evidence of progression
• • Score of ≥8 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• • Report anxiety symptoms lasting at least one month
• • Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of two treatment arms: MT or CBT
• • Access to Zoom and a quiet/private location
• • Inclusion Criteria for Advanced Cancer Sub-Study (N=50)
• • English-speaking
• • 18 years or older
• • Advanced cancer diagnosis: stage III or IV lung cancer; any stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, unresectable liver cancer, unresectable ampullary or peri-ampullary cancer, or other stage IV gastrointestinal cancer; stage III or IV ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or other stage IV gynecologic cancer; stage IV breast cancer; stage III testicular cancer or any stage IV genitourinary cancer; stage IV sarcoma; stage IV melanoma; stage IV endocrine cancer; lymphoma, myeloma, or leukemia
• • Currently receiving oncological treatment or on active surveillance
• • Karnofsky performance score of ≥60
• • Score of ≥8 on the HADS anxiety subscale
• • Anxiety symptoms lasting for at least 1 month
• • Greater than 6-month expected survival as judged by the treating oncologist
• • Willing to adhere to all study procedures
• • Access to Zoom and a quiet/private location
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Completed active cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) less than one month prior to enrollment (maintenance hormonal or targeted therapies are allowed).
• • Active suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
• • Score of ≥10 indicative of cognitive impairment on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
• • Received a treatment course of seven or greater MT or CBT sessions for anxiety symptoms within the last six months
• • Unable to provide informed consent for themselves
• • Exclusion Criteria for Advanced Cancer Sub-Study
• • Active suicidal ideation; bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
• • Score of ≥10 on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
• • Prior receipt of MT within the past six months
• • Plan to receive any form of psychotherapy in the coming 8 weeks
• • Initiation or change in anxiety medications within the past 4 weeks
• • Plan to initiate or change anxiety medications in the coming 8 weeks
• • Unable to provide informed consent for themselves