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Study of Behavioral Activation for Depression in Older Adult Cancer Survivors

This study is looking at two types of talk therapy, Behavioral Activation (BA) and Supportive Psychotherapy, to see if they can help older adult cancer survivors with depression. These therapies will be given remotely, meaning over video or phone. You might be able to join if you are 65 or older, have a history of cancer, and are fluent in English. The study aims to see if BA can effectively reduce depression symptoms, measured by changes in your PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire 9) score after two months. The study plans to enroll 90 participants.

Study design
This interventional study compares two types of talk therapy. It plans to enroll 90 participants.
What's involved
You would have ten sessions, each 30-50 minutes long, delivered approximately weekly over a 10-week period.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your depression symptoms will be measured at 2 months after the intervention ends.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05574127

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

Recruiting
NAAges 65+InterventionalTreatment
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
~150 participants
Updated 2026-08-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Behavioral ActivationSupportive Psychotherapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Difference of Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scores between study groups
Measured over 2 months post intervention

Conditions

Survivorship

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NCT05574127

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)

    New York, New Yorkstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

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

Who to contact

Rebecca Saracino, PhD
[email protected]
646-888-0263
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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 self-report or medical record, ≥18 years old
Fluent in English, as per self-reported fluency of "well" or "very well"\*
As per self-report or medical record, has a history of cancer
Elevated score on the PHQ-9: ≥5
Received a Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Scale (BOMC) score of ≤ 11 (N/A for Training Case participants)

Exclusion

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
As per PI determination, requires a higher level of care for current 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 medical record, current weekly psychotherapy or currently taking an antidepressant for \<3 months.
As per medical record, patient has impaired decision-making capacity
Language verification: Prior to enrollment, patients will be asked the following two questions by research staff to verify English fluency necessary for participation in the study:

What this trial measures

  • Difference of Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scores between study groups2 months post intervention

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9): The PHQ-9 consists of nine items, each of which corresponds to one of the nine symptoms required for a diagnosis of a major depressive disorder (MDD) as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Respondents are asked to rate how often they have been bothered by each of the nine symptoms over the preceding two weeks. Respondents rate each item on a four-point scale (0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, 3=nearly every day). Its reliability and validity have been established in diverse general and medical populations. Total scores range from 0-27; In outpatient cancer settings, psychometric research suggests that a score of ≥8 indicates clinically significant depressive symptoms and should be used as a clinical cut-off .