Patient disadvantages and how to minimize them
depression, psychiatric
ADVANCED CANCER
Since this is a study examining the effects of BA, a behavior-focused psychotherapy, on depression in patients with advanced cancer, we believe that the physical and psychological disadvantages to the study participants will be minimal. However, we will give due consideration to their physical and psychological condition, bearing in mind that they might experience stress due to the content of the intervention program and questionnaires. If exclusion criteria are met during the waiting period, such as worsening of psychiatric symptoms, the patient’s participation will be stopped immediately, and appropriate medical treatment, such as a visit to the psychiatry department of each research facility, will be provided. In addition, patients with a BDI- II score of 21 (moderate) or higher will be enrolled if they wish to participate in the study after being fully informed that they might benefit from pharmacotherapy and the study will be terminated immediately and they will be switched to regular psychiatric care if they experience worsening of psychiatric symptoms based on the discontinuation criteria.