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Grant Abstract
Biobehavioral Interactions in Neuro-Oncology Caregivers
The purpose of the proposed study is to gather pilot data to support an R01 application aimed at examining psychological, behavioral, and biologic responses and overall health in family members who provide care to persons with a PMBT. The specific aims of this pilot project are to: 1) Explore the feasibility of recruiting and retaining neuro-oncology caregivers to determine their willingness to participate in a longitudinal bio-behavioral research study and 2) Collect preliminary data to estimate effect sizes at baseline and 3 months regarding relationships in the Pittsburgh Mind Body Center model adapted to the neuro-oncology caregiver situation, in particular the relationships between: a) PMBT characteristics (e.g. tumor type and treatment) and caregivers’ psycho-behavioral responses (e.g. depressive symptoms and altered sleep), b) caregivers’ chronic burdens and resources (e.g. personality type and social support) and their psycho-behavioral responses, c) caregivers’ psycho-behavioral responses and their biologic responses (e.g. interleukin levels), and d) caregivers’ biologic responses and their overall health.
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