The purpose of this study is to:
1. determine if family dyads randomly assigned to either a brief or extensive family-based program of care have better proximal and distal outcomes from both a clinical and economic perspective than dyads randomly assigned to usual care
2. determine if the brief or extensive program of care has a differential effect on patient and caregiver outcomes depending on the patient's baseline risk for distress status (high versus low).
A longitudinal, randomized clinical trial is being used for patients with advanced lung, colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer and their caregivers.
