Psychological Intervention for Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant

The purpose of this study is to find out whether a psychological intervention can make the experience of being a caregiver more manageable by improving the participant's quality of life, mood, and caregiving burden during the participant's loved one's transplant process.

The psychological intervention will entail six visits with a trained clinician and will take place during the first three months of the participant's loved ones' transplant process. A trained behavioral psychologist or social worker will meet with the participant or talk with the participant over the telephone or video conference for 45 minutes at a time to discuss the participant's caregiver experience and to help the participant develop effective skills to support the participant's loved one as well as participant over the course of the transplant.

The study will use a series of questionnaires to measure the participant's quality of life, mood, and overall caregiving burden. Study questionnaires will be completed in the hospital or clinic. The participant will also have the option of completing these questionnaires remotely through a secure web link, over the telephone, or in a mailed paper copy.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult caregivers (≥18 years) of patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic HCT at MGH, and they must attend the HCT consent visit with the patient.
• A relative or a friend who either lives with the patient or has in-person contact with him or her at least twice per week and is identified as the primary caregiver for transplant.
• Ability to speak English or able to complete questionnaires with minimum assistance of an interpreter.

Exclusion criteria

• Significant uncontrolled psychiatric or other co-morbid disease, which the primary oncologist believes prohibits the ability to participate in study procedures