Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Anxiety in Patients With Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Caregivers

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To identify, through both quantitative and qualitative methods, clinical correlates of
anxiety and points of intervention to reduce anxiety in patients with late-stage lung cancer
and their primary caregivers.

II. To apply these findings to develop a brief dyadic intervention based on Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce anxiety in late-stage lung cancer patients and their
primary caregivers.

III. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the pilot intervention through number
of completed visits and assessment pre- and post- intervention.

OUTLINE:

Participants undergo cognitive behavioral therapy over 1 hour once weekly for a total of 6
sessions. Sessions are tailored to patient and caregiver cognitions and approach and
avoidance behaviors.

After completion of study treatment, participants are followed up at 1 week.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

- At least 6 weeks post-diagnosis

- Current symptoms of anxiety (e.g., Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety [HAM-A] >=14)

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

- CAREGIVER: Identified by patient as primary caregiver

- CAREGIVER: At least 14 hours/week spent caring for patient

- CAREGIVER: Current symptoms of anxiety (e.g., HAM-A >= 14)

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

Exclusion Criteria:

- PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS:

- Active, unstable, untreated serious mental illness

- Other cognitive inability to complete informed consent process or study procedures