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NCT Number: NCT07177846

LiveWell: An Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training Protocol for Patients Living With Metastatic Lung Cancer

In this pilot randomized controlled trial, patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and at least mild distress (N=80) will be randomized to receive LiveWell, an adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training protocol) or Usual Care. The investigators will evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of LiveWell to reduce distress (primary outcome) and improve psychological well-being, symptom burden, and quality of life (secondary outcomes). The investigators will explore emotion regulation as a potential mechanism of change.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive LiveWell, an eight-session, telehealth-delivered DBT Skills Training intervention tailored for lung cancer metavivors, or Usual Care. Participants will complete self-report measures at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3 month follow-up. It is hypothesized that: 1) RCT methods will demonstrate evidence of feasibility (accrual N=80/20 months, >80% adherence to assigned interventions and assessments, <25% attrition) and acceptability (>3/5 satisfaction study procedures, >3 mean intervention satisfaction LiveWell); 2) LiveWell participants will demonstrate reductions in distress (primary outcome) and improvements in psychological well-being (illness acceptance, positive affect, tolerance of uncertainty, mindfulness, self-efficacy to manage emotions and symptoms), symptom burden (fatigue, dyspnea, pain), and quality of life (secondary outcomes) compared to Usual Care participants at 8-week follow-up. H3. (Exploratory). To explore the role of emotion regulation as a potential mechanism of change.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18
  • AJCC Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer
  • Receiving treatment with non-curative intent
  • English proficiency
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network distress screening score ≥ 3/10

Exclusion criteria

  • Cognitive impairment
  • Untreated serious mental illness
  • Expected survival < 6 months

Treatment and study plan

LiveWell: An Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training Program

Behavioral

LiveWell: Adapted DBT Skills Training for Patients with Metastatic Lung Cancer

Primary outcomes

  1. PROMIS Anxiety Short Form (8a)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    Anxiety will be measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety (8 items) Short Form Scale. PROMIS scores are expressed as T-scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptomology.

  2. PROMIS Depression Short Form (8a)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    Depression will be measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression (8 items) Short Form Scale. PROMIS scores are expressed as T-scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptomology.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form (IUS-12)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) Short Form will be used to measure emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to uncertain situations. The IUS has a score range of 12-60, where a higher score indicates greater intolerance of uncertainty.

  2. Peace, Equanimity, and Acceptance in the Cancer (PEACE) - Peaceful Acceptance of Illness Subscale

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The 5-item Peace, Equanimity, and Acceptance in the Cancer (PEACE) - Peaceful Acceptance of Illness Subscale will be used to assess patient-reported acceptance, inner peace, and tranquility in the context of cancer. The subscale has a score range of 5-20, where a higher score indicates greater peaceful acceptance of illness.

  3. PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form (15a)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form 15a will be used to assess patient-reported positive emotions and well-being over the past 7 days. PROMIS scores are expressed as T-scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater positive affect.

  4. Difficulty in Regulating Emotions Scale (DERS-18)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The DERS-18 will be used to assess emotion dysregulation. The DERS-18 has a score range of 18-80, where a higher score indicates greater difficulty with regulating emotions.

  5. Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The 10-item Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised will be used to assess patient-reported mindfulness qualities, including present-moment awareness, acceptance, and attention. The CAMS-R has a score range of 10-40, where a higher score indicates greater mindfulness.

  6. PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Symptoms Short Form (8a)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Symptoms 8-item Short Form will be used to assess patient-reported confidence in managing symptoms and limiting their interference with daily life. PROMIS scores are expressed as T-scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy for managing symptoms.

  7. PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions (8a) Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions 8-item Short Form will be used to assess patient-reported confidence in managing negative emotions and emotional distress related to chronic illness. PROMIS scores are expressed as T-scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy for managing emotions.

  8. NCI Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-PRO-CTCAE)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The NCI-PRO-CTCAE will be used to assess patient-reported symptom frequency, severity, and interference related to lung cancer and its treatment. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater symptom burden.

  9. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lung (FACT-L)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The FACT-L will be used to assess patient-reported quality of life across physical, social/family, emotional, and functional domains, as well as lung cancer-specific concerns. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all to 4 = Very much) and summed to form subscale and total scores. Higher subscale and total scores indicate better quality of life.

  10. DBT Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL) - DBT Skills Subscale (DSS)

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0), mid-point of intervention (week 5), post-intervention (week 11), and 3 month follow-up (week 24)

    The DBT Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL) -DBT Skills Subscale (DSS) will be used to assess patient-reported frequency of skill use to manage difficult situations. The DBT-WCCL has a score range of 0 to 4, where a higher score indicates greater DBT skill use.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Kathryn Moody

CONTACT

[email protected]

843-792-9698

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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