NeuroCARE: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Psychological Intervention for Caregivers of Patients With Primary Malignant Brain Tumors
Abstract
Purpose Caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT) experience significant psychological distress. We assessed the effect of a psychological intervention (NeuroCARE) on anxiety symptoms among PMBT caregivers. Methods We conducted a randomized trial of NeuroCARE versus usual care in PMBT caregivers with elevated anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥5) within 6 months of the patient's diagnosis. NeuroCARE was developed for PMBT caregivers and consists of six telehealth sessions with a behavioral health specialist. Participants completed surveys at baseline, 11-week (postintervention), and 16-week (1-month postintervention) time points. The primary outcome was 11-week anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]-Anxiety Subscale). We also measured depression symptoms (HADS-Depression Subscale), quality of life (QOL; Caregiver QOL survey), caregiver burden (Caregiver Reaction Assessment), self-efficacy (Lewis Cancer Self-Efficacy Scale), coping (Measure of Current Status), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5). We conducted analysis of covariance and linear mixed-effects regression analyses to examine intervention effects on study outcomes. Results We enrolled 120 caregivers (60/group) between October 2019 and June 2022; 105 were evaluable for the primary outcome. At 11 weeks, NeuroCARE participants reported significantly lower anxiety symptoms than usual care participants ( M , 8.87 v 10.69…
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The observed differences in the sensitivity analysis subgroup may be clinically relevant.
“We observed differences of small to moderate magnitude (Cohen d > .20) that may be clinically relevant, benefiting the intervention group at 24 weeks for caregiver anxiety”
From Palliative Care Coaching for Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer (2026) · cites this paper as [31]
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- Authors
- Forst, D. A., Podgurski, A. F., Strander, S. M., Whitman, J. D., Datta, S., Pintro, K., Horick, N. K., Willis, K. D., Sannes, T. S., Greer, J. A., El-Jawahri, A., Jacobs, J. M., & Temel, J. S.
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- UMass Memorial Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Published
- 2024-12-20
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 36
- Pages
- 4252-4262
- ISSN
- 0732-183X (ISSN-L)
- 1527-7755
- OpenAlex
- W4402581217
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 2.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Keywords
- primary malignant brain tumors, caregiver anxiety, caregiver depression, psychological intervention, telemedicine, caregiver burden, self-efficacy, coping, post-traumatic stress disorder, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Psychosocial Intervention, Caregiver Burden, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Brain Neoplasms, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Caregivers, Telemedicine, Self Efficacy
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