Collaborative Care With CBT May Help People With Cancer Better Manage Depression, Pain & Fatigue

People diagnosed with cancer who participated in a stepped collaborative care intervention that included cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the primary treatment had greater improvement in health-related quality of life, and their ability to manage depression, pain, and fatigue. The stepped care intervention took place weekly for 50-to-60-minute sessions with a care coordinator via telemedicine (telephone or videoconferencing). Pharmacotherapy for symptoms could be initiated or changed. Standard care was screening and referral to a health care professional for treatment of symptoms.

During the first six months, those who received stepped collaborative care had greater improvement than . . .