Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Depression Among Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With Cancer: An Open Pilot Trial

Purpose This pilot study evaluates the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) for depression, anxiety, and hope among adolescent and young adult (AYA) diagnosed with cancer. Method: 10 AYAs with a primary sarcoma diagnosis participated in an open pilot of SFBT for their depression between January and June 2019 delivered by trained social work interns. Results All participants completed four planned sessions and reported strong acceptability of SFBT. Statistically significant improvements were observed for pre- and post-treatment scores for depression, anxiety, and levels of hope. These improvements were maintained at 1-month follow up, with significant patterns of difference in study participants’ depression, anxiety, and levels of hope over time. Conclusions SFBT is an acceptable intervention approach for depression (and anxiety) among AYAs diagnosed with cancer. SFBT offers a brief, strength-based, and hope-engendering approach to address mental health concerns among young adult diagnosed with cancer.

Technology-Assisted, Group-Based CBT for Rural Adults’ Depression: Open Pilot Trial Results

Purpose: This pilot study assesses the association of Raising Our Spirits Together (ROST), a technology-assisted, group-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, with rural adults’ depressive symptoms and anxiety. Method: Nine adults from rural Michigan participated in an open pilot of ROST. Clergy facilitated pilot groups. The pilot began in February 2020 in-person. Due to COVID-19, the pilot was completed virtually. Results: Mean depressive symptom scores, based on the PHQ-9, significantly decreased from pre-treatment ( M = 14.4) to post-treatment ( M = 6.33; t (8) = 6.79; P < .001). Symptom reduction was maintained at 3-month follow-up ( M = 8.00), with a significant pattern of difference in depressive symptoms over time (F(2) = 17.7; P < .001; eta-squared = .689). Similar patterns occurred for anxiety based on the GAD-7. Participants attended an average of 7.33 of 8 sessions. Fidelity ratings were excellent. Discussion: ROST is a potentially feasible intervention for rural adults’ depressive symptoms. ROST offers a promising model for increasing treatment access and building capacity in rural areas.

Pycnogenol® Supplementation Prevents Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections/Inflammation and Interstitial Cystitis

This open pilot registry study aimed to evaluate and compare the prophylactic effects of Pycnogenol® or cranberry extract in subjects with previous, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) or interstitial cystitis (IC). Methods. Inclusion criteria were recurrent UTI or IC. One subject group was supplemented with 150 mg/day Pycnogenol®, another with 400 mg/day cranberry extract, and a group served as a control in a 2-month open follow-up. Results. 64 subjects with recurrent UTI/IC completed the study. The 3 groups of subjects were comparable at baseline. All subjects had significant symptoms (minor pain, stranguria, repeated need for urination, and lower, anterior abdominal pain) at inclusion. In the course of the study, the subjects reported no tolerability problems or side effects. The incidence of UTI symptoms, in comparison with the period before inclusion in the standard management (SM) group, decreased significantly; there was a more pronounced decrease in the rate of recurrent infections in the Pycnogenol® group ( p < 0.05 ). The improvement in patients supplemented with Pycnogenol® was significantly superior to the effects of cranberry. At the end of the study, all subjects in the Pycnogenol® group were infection-free ( p < 0.05 vs. cranberry). Significantly, more subjects were completely symptom-free after 2 months of management with Pycnogenol® (20/22) than with SM (18/22) and cranberry (16/20). Conclusions. This pilot registry suggests that 60 days of Pycnogenol® supplementation possibly decrease the occurrence of UTIs and IC without side effects and with an efficacy superior to cranberry.

Improving patient and caregiver understanding of risks and benefits of immunotherapy for melanoma or lung cancer.

TPS6596 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) extend survival for patients with advanced cancer, particularly melanoma and lung cancer, though responses are heterogeneous and treatment may be complicated by immune-related adverse events that are important for patients and their caregivers to recognize. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an educational video and question prompt list (QPL) in improving patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of what to expect from immunotherapy. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial of a novel educational intervention to improve immunotherapy knowledge, we will enroll 140 adult patients with advanced melanoma or lung cancer (small cell or non-small cell) who have a plan to initiate therapy with an ICI and their caregivers. Patients assigned to the intervention will receive a link to a video about the risks and benefits of ICI treatment developed by the study team as well as an ICI-focused QPL that includes questions about the goal and likelihood of benefit of ICIs. We will enroll the first ten patients in an open pilot and we will refine the intervention and study procedures based on pilot findings. We will randomize the remaining 130 patients to receive either the intervention or a usual care control. Randomization will be carried out using the permuted block approach with stratification by cancer type, and patient-caregiver dyads will be assigned to the same study arm. Participants on both arms will complete surveys at enrollment (baseline), 72 hours post-enrollment, and 6 weeks post-enrollment. The primary outcome of the study is feasibility of intervention delivery, defined as 70% of approached patients enrolling in the trial and 80% of enrolled patients watching the video, reviewing the QPL and completing the first assessment. We will also evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the intervention in 1) improving patient and caregiver knowledge, measured by a survey of knowledge questions that we developed and previously pilot tested with a sample of 105 patients; 2) enhancing patient-clinician communication, assessed by evaluating the number of questions patients asked in audio-recorded visits with their oncology clinicians after reviewing the QPL; and 3) reducing anxiety, measured by the State and Trait Anxiety Index. We will assess change in knowledge scores and anxiety from baseline to 72 hours post-enrollment and 6-weeks post-enrollment using the analysis of covariance model, adjusting for baseline scores and relevant covariates. The number of questions asked by patients and caregivers will be assessed by coding transcripts of oncology visits and comparing between arms using the negative binomial model. Study accrual to the open pilot phase began in February 2021. Current enrollment: n = 5. Clinical trial information: 04670445.