Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Mental Health

Overseen By Elizabeth C Conti, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Children, Pregnant, Cognitively impaired

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Varies based on number of sessions attended

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the impact of participating in a virtual therapy group on the mental health of individuals who have had cancer or tumor diseases. The focus is on Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy, which helps individuals find meaning and purpose during challenging times. Participants must have a history of cancer, be able to join online sessions, and feel comfortable completing questionnaires. The trial aims to better understand participants' experiences and how this therapy can enhance their well-being. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could improve mental health support for cancer survivors.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy is safe for mental health?

Research has shown that Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) is generally easy for participants to handle. Studies have found that it helps people with advanced cancer find meaning, peace, and purpose without increasing the likelihood of stopping treatment.

Other research on group therapy, similar to MCGP, has shown it can effectively help with anxiety, depression, grief, and eating disorders. This suggests that MCGP is safe and might be as helpful as one-on-one therapy for these issues.

Overall, MCGP appears to be a safe choice for those considering joining a clinical trial focused on mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Meaning-centered Group Psychotherapy is unique because it focuses on helping individuals find meaning and purpose in their lives, which can lead to improved mental health outcomes. Unlike standard treatments for mental health, such as medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy, this approach emphasizes personal growth and existential exploration. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it offers a holistic alternative that targets the deeper psychological needs of individuals, potentially leading to more sustainable mental health improvements.

What evidence suggests that Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy is effective for mental health?

Research has shown that Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP), which participants in this trial will receive, can greatly improve mental health. Studies find that people in these therapy sessions often experience spiritual well-being and a higher quality of life. They also tend to feel less depressed and anxious. For those with cancer, MCGP is especially helpful in addressing deep personal questions, aiding them in finding meaning and purpose despite their illness. The therapy also positively impacts emotional health, making it a promising choice for enhancing overall mental well-being. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth C Conti, MD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with a history of cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer), who can use Zoom on a smart device, and have been referred to the Integrative Medicine Clinic. They must be able to understand English and consent to participate in surveys.

Inclusion Criteria

Has access to iOS or Android smartphone, computer, or tablet or device capable of logging onto Zoom

Participates in at least one MCGP group session

I have a history of cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant women

I am a child.

I have cognitive impairments.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants attend virtual Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy sessions

Varies based on number of sessions attended

Virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety, depression, quality of life, and other outcomes after therapy

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Meaning-centered Group Psychotherapy

Trial Overview The study is testing virtual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy groups as part of integrative medicine for individuals with cancer. Participants will share their experiences after attending at least one therapy session.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention with Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4861219/

Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy - PubMed Central - NIH Results showed that patients who received individual meaning-centered psychotherapy had significantly higher post-treatment scores on spiritual well-being and ...

2. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-14-22

protocol of a randomized controlled trial | BMC Psychiatry In the proposed study, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors, ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S234756252400012X

Effects of meaning therapy on spirituality, psychological ... Patients receiving MCGP showed significantly greater improvement in spiritual well-being and quality of life and significantly greater reductions in depression, ...

4. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2014.57.2198

Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy: An Effective ... Specifically, patients receiving MCGP showed significantly greater improvement in spiritual well-being and quality of life and significantly ...

5. sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/wvn.12752

Effectiveness of meaning‐centered interventions on existential ... Meaning-centered interventions have a positive impact on improving anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer. However, the impact ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9893048/

New horizons in group psychotherapy research and practice ... Group psychotherapy has been shown to be equivalent to individual therapy for many disorders, including anxiety, depression, grief, eating disorders, and ...

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7801

The Critical Need for a Meaning-Centered Team-Level ... This piece describes the principles underlying MCP and how it might be adapted and applied to ameliorate burnout among HCPs.

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07147205

Evaluation of Meaning-centered Group Psychotherapy in ... A type of clinical study in which participants are identified as belonging to study groups and are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3648880/

Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for patients with ... We developed Meaning Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) to help patients with advanced cancer sustain or enhance a sense of meaning, peace and purpose in ...

10. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/355853150_Efficacy_of_Meaning-Centered_Psychotherapy_in_adult_patients_with_advanced_cancer_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

Efficacy of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in adult ... MCP was not associated with an increased risk of abandonment at post-treatment (OR=0.86, p=0.57). Conclusion: Manualised MCP interventions are a ...