Phase 1:

Couples participate in 2 guided meditation sessions. During the sessions, participants do deep breathing and visualization exercises then asked to review the exercises. Participants also asked for feedback about the instructions. Participants complete a written review about the program and a questionnaire about their general health and well-being. Each session will last about 60-90 minutes.

Phase 2:

Participants complete 12 questionnaires before first meditation and discussion session. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires. After completing the last session, about 4 weeks later, participants complete the same questionnaires again. Participants also complete a program review.

Couples participate in 4 guided meditation sessions with a trained meditation instructor. Participants do deep breathing and visualization exercises. All meditation and discussion sessions videotaped.

Participants continue daily meditation practice and some other short exercises at home.

Participant completes 13 questionnaires before first mediation session, after last session, and again 3 months later. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, any symptoms they may be having, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. Partners complete 12 questionnaires about their health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires.

Participant and partner attend meditation class with a trained meditation instructor each week for 4 weeks. Each session will last about 60 minutes total. Meditation and discussion sessions videotaped.

Phase 1: At end of second meditation and discussion session, couples complete complete a written review about the program in general and a questionnaire about their general health and well-being.

Phase 2: Couples complete 12 questionnaires before first meditation and discussion session. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and quality of life. Same questionnaires completed 1 week after mediation sessions.

Phase 3: Participant complete 13 questionnaires before first mediation session, after last session, and again 3 months later. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, any symptoms they may be having, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. Partners complete 12 questionnaires about their health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. AC group completes same questionnaires with no intervention.

Efficacy based on physical, psychological, and spiritual quality of life outcomes.

T-tests used to compare the pre-post change in the quality of life (QOL) outcomes between interventions separately for the participants and caregivers.

Intervention deemed feasible if >60% of enrolled couples complete Time 1 and Time 2 survey assessments.

Intervention deemed feasible if on average >50% of all practice sessions are attended.

Intervention deemed feasible if no attributable adverse events (AE) or serious adverse events (SAE) occur.