Cognitive Intervention After a Brain Tumor

September 25, 2018 updated by: University Health Network, Toronto
This study evaluates the feasibility and utility of two behavioural programs designed to reduce cognitive impairments secondary to brain tumors and/or their treatment. One-third of participants will complete training in either program, with the remaining third a wait-list control group.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Cognitive impairments (including problems with attention, memory or executive functions) are common in people with brain tumors, as a result of the disease and/or treatment effects. These deficits, even when relatively mild, can interfere with interpersonal relationships, occupational activities, functional independence, and quality of life. They may also contribute to caregiver burden.

Building on research in other cognitively-impaired populations, in this study we compare two behavioural interventions. The Brain Training (BT) and Brain Health (BH) interventions each offer a structured yet client-centered program through 8 weekly individual treatment sessions and between-session exercises. Contents include mindfulness practice, strategy training, and supportive psychoeducation including counseling around lifestyle factors to promote brain functioning.

Using a prospective randomized controlled design, 54 brain tumor patients are being enrolled in one of three study arms: BT, BH, or standard care (wait-list control). A battery of outcome measures is being administered (1) prior to intervention, (2) after the 8-week behavioural intervention (or wait-list) period, and (3) after an additional 4 months to evaluate longer-term outcomes. Analyses of variance will examine treatment effects, with regression analyses to explore moderating effects of participant demographics, severity of baseline cognitive impairment, and tumor and treatment factors (e.g., tumor location, radiation dose and distribution). Results of this trial will lay the groundwork for implementation of evidence-based supportive care to reduce and manage cognitive impairments following a brain tumor.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

26

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S1W8
        • Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. age 18 or older
  2. fluent in English
  3. able to provide informed consent to all procedures
  4. diagnosis of a brain tumor
  5. indication of lasting post-treatment cognitive deficits (e.g., from clinical presentation, prior neuropsychological assessment, and/or self-report)
  6. sufficient motor and sensory functioning to complete study activities
  7. availability to complete all study activities
  8. for patients treated with cranial radiation, at least 3 months post-radiation

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) comorbid neurological or psychiatric disorder or other medical condition suspected to influence cognition

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Brain Training
8-session cognitive training program
Behavioral: Brain Training Program
Experimental: Brain Health
8-session cognitive education program
Behavioral: Brain Health Program
No Intervention: Control
Wait-list control group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in cognitive composite score
Time Frame: baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Summation of standardized change scores on neuropsychological tests
baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in functional composite score
Time Frame: baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Summation of standardized change scores on measures of occupational functioning
baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Change in quality of life composite score
Time Frame: baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Summation of standardized change scores on measures of affect, perceived self-efficacy, and illness burden
baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Change in caregiver quality of life composite score
Time Frame: baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)
Summation of standardized change scores on measures of affect and caregiver burden
baseline, 2 months (0-2 weeks post-training), 6 months (4 months post-training)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kim Edelstein, PhD, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 16, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

July 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 27, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 25, 2018

Last Verified

September 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 13-7277-CE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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