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Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Caregivers of Cancer Patients

This study is looking at two types of counseling for people who care for loved ones with advanced cancer (Stage III or IV solid tumor). It compares "Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Caregivers" (MCP-C), which helps caregivers find meaning and purpose, with standard "Supportive Psychotherapy for Caregivers" (SP-C). You might be able to join if you are 18 or older, care for someone with advanced cancer, and feel distressed by caregiving. The study wants to see if these therapies improve your sense of meaning in life, spiritual well-being, and overall distress over one year. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This study plans to enroll 200 participants. You will be assigned to receive either MCP-C or SP-C for 7 sessions.
What's involved
You will complete questionnaires before, during, and after your 7 counseling sessions. Each set of questionnaires will take 35 to 50 minutes.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
You will complete additional questionnaires about 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after your last counseling session.

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

NCT06307535

A Study of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Caregivers to People With Cancer

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
~200 participants
Updated 2026-05-26 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for CaregiversSupportive Psychotherapy for Caregivers

At a glance

Recruiting sites
8 of 8 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Number of participants with improved primary outcomes
Measured over Up to 1 year
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Caregiver Burden
Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver Stress Syndrome

Explore related trials

Burnout, CaregiverCaregiver BurdenCaregiver stress syndrome

Where it's being run

8 sites across 3 states
New York4
New Jersey3
Florida1

Study leadership

  • Allison Applebaum, PhD, FAPOS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Who to contact

Allison Applebaum, PhD, FAPOS
[email protected]
212-241-8561
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 or over;
As per self-report, a current caregiver to a patient with Stage III or IV solid tumor cancer currently receiving medical care of any kind (e.g., curative, palliative);
Experiences distress as evidenced by a score of 4 or greater on the Distress Thermometer (DT) and an indication that this distress is associated with caregiving;
As per self-report, can read and understand English;
As per self-report, residing in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Florida, or have the ability to complete sessions while complying with current telehealth regulations.

Exclusion

Participant does not have a reasonable understanding of the study activities by the judgment of the consenting professional;
Engagement in regular individual psychotherapeutic support that the participant is unable or unwilling to put on hold for the course of treatment.

What this trial measures

  • Number of participants with improved primary outcomesUp to 1 year

    Evaluate the efficacy of MCP-C versus SP-C in improving primary outcomes (i.e., sense of meaning in life, spiritual well-being) immediately post-treatment and explore maintenance in gains up to 1 year.

  • Life Attitude Profile-Revised (LAP-R)Up to 1 year

    Life Attitude Profile-Revised (LAP-R) - used to measure sense of meaning in life. The LAP-R is a 48-item instrument. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Full scale ranges from 30 to 210 with a higher score indicating a greater sense of meaning in life and a more positive attitude towards life.

  • FACIT Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS)Up to 1 year

    The Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) - used to measure spiritual well-being. The SWBS is a 12-item instrument. Each item is scored from 1 to 5. Negatively worded items are reverse scored. The measure generates two sub-scales: Faith/Spirituality (0-16) and Meaning/Peace (0-32). Full scale ranges from 0 to 48. Higher scores indicate a greater sense of spiritual well-being.