A Study Comparing Music Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Cancer Survivors

Inclusion criteria

• English- or Spanish-speaking
• 18 years or older
• Prior cancer diagnosis of any type or stage
• Free of oncological disease, or stable disease with no evidence of progression
• Score of ≥8 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Report anxiety symptoms lasting at least one month
• Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of two treatment arms: MT or CBT
• Access to Zoom and a quiet/private location

Inclusion criteria

for Advanced Cancer Sub-Study (N=50)

• English-speaking
• 18 years or older
• Advanced cancer diagnosis: stage III or IV lung cancer; any stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, unresectable liver cancer, unresectable ampullary or peri-ampullary cancer, or other stage IV gastrointestinal cancer; stage III or IV ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or other stage IV gynecologic cancer; stage IV breast cancer; stage III testicular cancer or any stage IV genitourinary cancer; stage IV sarcoma; stage IV melanoma; stage IV endocrine cancer; lymphoma, myeloma, or leukemia
• Currently receiving oncological treatment or on active surveillance
• Karnofsky performance score of ≥60
• Score of ≥8 on the HADS anxiety subscale
• Anxiety symptoms lasting for at least 1 month
• Greater than 6-month expected survival as judged by the treating oncologist
• Willing to adhere to all study procedures
• Access to Zoom and a quiet/private location

Inclusion criteria

for group MT sub-study (N=18)

• English-speaking
• 18 years or older
• Prior cancer diagnosis of any type or stage
• Free of oncological disease, or stable disease with no evidence of progression
• Score of ≥8 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Report anxiety symptoms lasting at least one month
• Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures
• Access to Zoom and a quiet/private location

Exclusion criteria

• Completed active cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) less than one month prior to enrollment (maintenance hormonal or targeted therapies are allowed).
• Active suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
• Score of ≥10 indicative of cognitive impairment on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
• Received a treatment course of seven or greater MT or CBT sessions for anxiety symptoms within the last six months
• Unable to provide informed consent for themselves

Exclusion criteria

for Advanced Cancer Sub-Study

• Active suicidal ideation; bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
• Score of ≥10 on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
• Prior receipt of MT within the past six months
• Plan to receive any form of psychotherapy in the coming 8 weeks
• Initiation or change in anxiety medications within the past 4 weeks
• Plan to initiate or change anxiety medications in the coming 8 weeks
• Unable to provide informed consent for themselves

Exclusion criteria

for group MT sub-study

• Completed active cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) less than one month prior to enrollment (maintenance hormonal or targeted therapies are allowed).
• Active suicidal ideation; bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse
• Score of ≥10 on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
• Prior receipt of MT within the past six months
• Plan to receive any form of psychotherapy in the coming 8 weeks
• Initiation or change in anxiety medications within the past 4 weeks
• Unable to provide informed consent for themselves