Stress Management Intervention for At-Risk Mothers of Children With Cancer
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Stress
- Sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Enrollment
- 131
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- change in Maternal depression is being assessed, the Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and other measures assessing maternal depression will be used
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 10 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
To explore maternal biological (activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) and behavioral (smoking, sleep behavior, exercise and alcohol use) pathways of intervention-related decreases in inflammation. Hypothesis: The intervention group will show decreased levels of cortisol and improved health behaviors from pre- to post-intervention when compared with the control group. We will also explore whether intervention-related changes in these parameters predict symptoms of illness. Exploratory Aim 2. To explore psychological pathways of intervention-related decreases in distress among mothers, including the perception of social support and the use of behavioral coping strategies that are components of the intervention. Hypothesis: Increases in perceived social support and use of active behavioral coping strategies will be associated with intervention-related decreases in symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological stress.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •biologic, adoptive, or legal guardian mothers of children (birth to 17 years) who are within 6 weeks of being newly diagnosed with any cancer, with the exception of a central nervous system (CNS) cancer or early stage lymphoma, recruited from the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP)
- •no reported clinical history of psychotic or bipolar illness, neurological disorder (stroke, transient ischemic attacks, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis) or chronic disease known to influence immune function, including cardiovascular disease, cancer \[within the past 2 years\], or autoimmune disease
- •not taking medications that might alter responses to questionnaires or indices of immune function (including major sedatives or glucocorticoid, anti-inflammatory, anti-retroviral, or immunosuppressant medication)
- •fluency in English (i.e., have commonly used English in everyday speaking and reading for at least 10 years)
- •is at least 18 years of age
- •not working nightshifts exclusively.
Exclusion Criteria
- •mothers of children with CNS cancers due to our belief that a psychosocial intervention tailored more specifically to the unique stressors inherent in this diagnosis is warranted
- •mothers of children with early stage lymphomas will be excluded because of their child's brief/mild treatment course
- •mothers whose child is older than 17 years will not be eligible; the upper age limit (17 years) was established based on referral patterns at the CHP hematology/oncology department.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
change in Maternal depression is being assessed, the Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and other measures assessing maternal depression will be used
Time Frame: baseline, 2 weeks post intervention, 6 months post intervention
maternal depression