The Behavioral Health Core (BHC) is comprised of the two separate but interrelated components:
1) Psychosocial Support and Research Program, and
2) Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program.
These teams provide specialized expertise, such as patient-reported and neurocognitive outcome assessments,
to support NCI clinical trials and natural history studies. They also develop behavioral science protocols
to investigate specific psychosocial and neurobehavioral effects of chronic illness.
The BHC investigators develop novel assessment tools to evaluate various areas of psychosocial and
neurobehavioral functioning that are not being assessed adequately by other measures. If there is a
need for a behavioral questionnaire, survey, or interview on a specific topic, they can help investigators
choose or develop such a tool. Examples of patient-reported outcome domains they can assess and assist with include:
- Pain intensity
- Pain interference
- Quality of life
- Physical functioning
- Neurologic symptoms
- Cognitive functioning
- Anxiety or depression
- Family functioning
- Sleep
In addition to clinical research support, the BHC offers clinical and educational services to the patients
and families enrolled on studies throughout the NCI and other NIH institutes, including comprehensive
neuropsychological assessments; individualized interventions to promote coping with illness and medical
procedures, managing pain, adhering to medication regimens, advance care planning, and education/support groups.
Furthermore, we provide support and a wellness program to the NCI clinical staff. We also develop educational
resources and therapeutic tools for patients and families. Some tools in various stages of development include:
- ShopTalk (therapeutic game with 3 versions: one for patients, one for healthy siblings of pediatric patients,
and one for children of parents with cancer)
- Voicing My CHOiCES (advance care planning guide for adolescents and young adults living with a life-limiting illness)
- When A Cure is No Longer Available (guide for parents and caregivers)
- DOCK 8 Deficiency Guide for Adolescents (psychoeducational guide for patients on medical and emotional factors of DOCK 8 Deficiency)
- Providing End of Life Care: A Guide for Staff Supporting Patients and Families
- The Gift of Gerbert’s Feathers (storybook to help children talk about death)