The use of a coping support intervention (CSI) improved the ability of parents of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with hematologic malignancies to cope and reduced associated depression, according to a recent study.
From 2012 to 2016, parents of AYAs with hematologic malignancies were randomly assigned to either the research-based CSI AYA-Parents group (n=82) or to standard care (n=70).
Researchers explained, “CSI AYA-Parents was a 5-session one-on-one therapy employing a supportive-psychodynamic approach. As in other supportive-psychodynamic treatments, the central elements were (1) the support of psycho-oncologic information processing, (2) the reflection and modification of the parents’ subjective theories of illness and the individual coping strategies for dealing with cancer situation, and (3) the reflection and verbalization of role changes within the family system and changes in the relationship to the child with cancer.”
In the intention-to-treat analysis, people in the CSI group had significantly improved adaptive coping compared with standard care (P=.013). CSI parents used more instrumental support or emotional support compared with the standard care group.
CSI was also associated with a significant decrease in depressive symptoms (P=.008) and improved mental health.
“Engaging family caregivers as part of the cancer care team through ongoing psycho-oncologic risk stratification screening and personalized support interventions may improve different patient-reported outcomes in AYA cancer treatment,” the researchers wrote. “Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of AYA family caregivers’ support and the further development of the best supportive care in AYAs with cancer.”
Koehler M, Hoppe S, Kropf, et al. Randomized trial of a supportive psychotherapy for parents of adolescents and young adults with hematologic malignancies. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2022. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.7075
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