Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Addressing Existential Distress of Patient/Caregiver Dyads Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Feasibility and Acceptability

Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Addressing Existential Distress of Patient/Caregiver Dyads Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Feasibility and Acceptability

The purpose of this study is to learn whether Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP-Dyad) is practical, acceptable, and helpful to survivors and caregivers during recovery after stem cell transplant. MCP-Dyad is a meaning-focused support program. It is designed to help people stay connected to meaning, cope with difficult experiences, and communicate as a pair during recovery.

Inclusion criteria:

• Eligible patients and their caregivers must be adults (≥18 years)
• Patient must have undergone HSCT for a malignant blood cancer condition
• Caregiver must be the main support person (e.g., signed caregiving contract) for the HSCT patient
• Both the patient and their caregiver must be willing to participate in the study (dyads only)
• Be able to read, write, and speak in English
• Have access to a smartphone, computer, or tablet necessary for study participation and assessments. If a patient/caregiver dyad is interested in participating but does not have such a device, we will provide a Tracfone with smartphone capabilities for each member of the dyad

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients undergoing HSCT for nonmalignant conditions
• Patients and caregivers with severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment that may affect informed consent/participation
• Prisoners, pregnant women, and institutionalized persons
• Patients with severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment that would affect informed consent or participation