This clinical trial tests a mindfulness intervention, consisting of group sessions and an individual session, using mindfulness based stress reduction techniques, to reduce patient reported symptoms for patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). In patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant, sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can attack the body's normal cells (called graft-versus-host disease). In cGVHD patients may encounter stiffness, itching, joint and muscle pain, oral cavity pain, itchy eyes, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and poor sleep resulting in a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Mindfulness interventions use meditation practices with elements of psychology to improve emotional regulation, resilience and acceptance based coping. This mindfulness based intervention may reduce patient reported symptoms in patients with cGVHD.
Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
Willingness to participate in the study
Willingness to attend in-person or virtual group sessions
Ability to read and understand English (required for protocol therapy and planned survey)
Previous participation in four or more sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)/ mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
An increase in anti-cGvHD medication (increased dosage or addition of a new medication) within 4 weeks prior to baseline evaluation
Severe psychiatric comorbidities (active psychosis, suicidal ideation) as determined by primary investigator (PI)
Concurrent malignancy, autoimmune disease, chronic infections, or other chronic inflammatory illness that might confound the results as determined by the PI
City of Hope Medical Center
Lead sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Collaborator