CALM: Managing Distress in Malignant Brain Cancer

Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test an empirically supported psychotherapeutic intervention, Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in those with malignant brain cancer diagnoses.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	No
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Interventional
Eligible Ages	18 Years and Over
Gender	All

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Self-reported diagnosis of brain metastasis (bMET) or a malignant primary brain tumor (PBT; specifically grade III or IV and CNS diffuse large B cell lymphomas)* - At least 2-weeks post-surgical resection or biopsy of the brain (if applicable) - Score > 20 on the TICS.

- Reported elevated depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) OR death anxiety symptoms (DADDS score ≥ 15) - Ability to read, speak, and understand English.

- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Major communication difficulties which would prohibit the psychotherapeutic interaction.

- Inability to meet with the interventionist via an electronic device for telehealth intervention sessions.

- Inability to understand and provide informed consent.

- Prisoners.

- Medical, psychological, or social condition that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, may increase the participant's risk of adverse events and/or prohibit the individual's participation in the intervention.

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT06180460
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.	N/A
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Virginia Commonwealth University
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	Ashlee Loughan, Ph.D
Principal Investigator Affiliation	Virginia Commonwealth University
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Other, U.S. Fed
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	United States
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Brain Tumor, Brain Metastases, Brain Cancer, Metastatic Lung Cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Metastatic Melanoma, Metastatic Colon Cancer, Metastatic Kidney Cancer

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM)

CALM optimally consists of six individual sessions of 45 to 60 minutes, delivered over a three- to six-month period. CALM sessions address four broad and interrelated domains found to be important and relevant in this population: (1) symptom management and communication with healthcare providers, (2) changes in personal relationships, (3) sense of meaning and purpose, and (4) the future, hope and mortality.

Placebo Comparator: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Treatment as usual (TAU) for managing distress in brain cancer involves being provided a list of local / national resources (e.g., psychologist, social worker, or other mental health providers) if an individual chooses to seek treatment for the distress they are experiencing.

Interventions

Behavioral: - CALM

The CALM intervention is a supportive-expressive therapy that is administered by CALM trained clinicians in a particular style.

Behavioral: - Treatment as usual

Treatment as usual includes a list of local / national resources (e.g., psychologist, social worker, or other mental health providers) if an individual chooses to seek treatment for the distress they are experiencing.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

Status

Recruiting

Address

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, 23298

Site Contact

Giuliana Zarrella

[email protected]

804-628-6799