Mind-Body Intervention in Glioma Couples

An Online Dyadic Mind-Body Intervention for Glioma Patients and Their Partners

This trial studies how well a couple-based mind body program works in improving spiritual, psychosocial, and physical quality of life in patients with high or low grade glioma or tumors that have spread to the brain and their partners. A couple-based mind body program may help to improve spiritual well-being, sleep difficulties, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life in patients with glioma or tumors that have spread to the brain and their partners.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Examine the feasibility of the couple-based mind-body (CBMB) program in patients with high grade glioma (HGG) and their partners.

II. Establish the initial efficacy of the CBMB program in patients and their partners regarding spiritual (primary), psychological and physical quality of life (QOL) (secondary) outcomes relative to a waitlist control (WLC) group.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Explore potential mediation (i.e., mindfulness, compassion, holding back, and intimacy) and moderation (e.g., baseline medical, demographic and psychosocial factors) effects of the intervention.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I (CBMB PROGRAM): Patients undergo CBMB program consisting of 4-5 deep-breathing and meditation exercise sessions over 60 minutes and 2 weekly telephone calls over 15 minutes for 6 weeks. Patients also complete questionnaires regarding health, mood, sleeping habits, relationship, health care, work productivity, and quality of life.

GROUP II (WAITLIST CONTROL): Patients complete questionnaires as in Group I. Patients may undergo CBMB program after completion of study.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PATIENT ONLY: Patients with a diagnosis of HGG or low grade glioma (LGG), based on radiographic or pathologic diagnosis of grade III or IV listed in the medical records, or patients with a malignancy that has metastasized to the brain
• PATIENT ONLY: Patients must be within 1 month of initiating or having undergone any type of cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy)
• PATIENT ONLY: Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 80 or above
• PATIENT ONLY: Having a spouse/romantic partner (including same-sex) and who is willing to participate
• PATIENT & PARTNER: Able to read and speak English
• PATIENT & PARTNER: Able to provide informed consent
• PATIENT & PARTNER: Have access to internet connectivity

Exclusion Criteria:

• PATIENT ONLY: Regularly (self-defined) participation in psychotherapy or a formal cancer support group
• PATIENT ONLY: Cognitive deficits that would impede the completion of self-report instruments as deemed by the clinical team