Tailored Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Dr. Joseph Greer is the Co-Director of the Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. He is also an Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Greer’s clinical work focuses on the delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help patients and their families cope with cancer. In addition, he collaborates with a multidisciplinary research team of oncologists, nurses, palliative care physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists to develop and test supportive care interventions aimed at improving quality of life, mood, and quality of care for patients with cancer. As the principal investigator and collaborator on numerous grant-funded projects, he is studying the application of CBT to treat anxiety in patients with advanced cancer; nurse-delivered behavioral interventions to improve breathlessness in patients with lung cancer; the use of mobile technology to promote symptom management and adherence to oral chemotherapy medications; and the benefits of early palliative care integrated with standard oncology care. Dr. Greer has received funding for this work from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and philanthropic donations.