Guided Eight-week Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Distressed Family Caregivers of People With Dementia

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

19 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-07-19

Study Completion Date

2022-06-22

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The pilot randomized controlled trial aims to assess effects of a guided online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention on distressed family caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) compared to the control group. A total of 24 family caregivers of PwD who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Exploratory hypotheses are that the ACT group will show decreases in caregivers' psychological distress and burden and improvements in QoL and engagement in meaningful activities at posttest and 1-month follow-up, compared to the control group. Also, the project will evaluate the feasibility of recruitment, adherence, and retention of caregivers and explore caregivers' experiences in the ACT intervention through semi-structured interviews at posttest. As part of the pretest, we will also explore caregivers' perceived impacts of COVID-19 on daily lives.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia

NCT04458870

Psychological Distress

COMPLETED NA

A Ten-Week Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia

NCT05043441

Depressive Symptoms

COMPLETED NA

Videoconferencing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With a Web App Use for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia

NCT05518968

Depression

WITHDRAWN NA

Internet-based Intervention for Enhancing the Psychological Well-being of Elderly Caregivers

NCT03391596

Depressive Symptoms Psychological Distress Quality of Life

COMPLETED NA

Practice of Acceptance, Awareness, and Compassion in Caregiving (PAACC)

NCT03447860

Dementia

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The pilot randomized controlled trial aims to assess effects of a guided online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention on distressed family caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) compared to the control group. A total of 24 family caregivers of PwD who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Caregivers assigned to the intervention group will receive individual ACT sessions guided by a trained coach for one hour per week over 8 weeks through Zoom videoconferencing with supplemental psychoeducation materials provided. Caregivers assigned to the control group will receive care as usual with psychoeducation materials provided. Outcomes regarding caregivers' mental health will be collected at three time points (i.e., pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up) and compared between groups over time. Exploratory hypotheses are that the ACT group will show decreases in caregivers' psychological distress and burden and improvements in QoL and engagement in meaningful activities at posttest and 1-month follow-up, compared to the control group. Also, the project will evaluate the feasibility of recruitment, adherence, and retention of caregivers and explore caregivers' experiences in the ACT intervention through semi-structured interviews at posttest. As part of the pretest, we will also explore caregivers' perceived impacts of COVID-19 on daily lives.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Psychological Distress

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group

8 weekly ACT sessions individually guided by a trained coach through Zoom videoconferencing with psychoeducation materials provided

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Caregivers assigned to this intervention group will receive individual ACT sessions guided by a trained coach for one hour per week over 8 weeks through Zoom videoconferencing with psychoeducation materials provided.

Control group

care as usual with psychoeducation materials provided

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Control group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The control group will receive care as usual with psychoeducation materials provided.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Caregivers assigned to this intervention group will receive individual ACT sessions guided by a trained coach for one hour per week over 8 weeks through Zoom videoconferencing with psychoeducation materials provided.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Control group

The control group will receive care as usual with psychoeducation materials provided.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* community-dwelling adults (age 18 or over) who are currently taking the primary responsibility for the care of a relative with dementia living in the community
* devoting at least four hours daily to the care of the relative with dementia
* having at least mild symptoms of psychological distress as measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Antony et al., 1988)
* having a computer or a smartphone with the internet access at home and
* being able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* having cognitive, physical, or sensory deficits or language barriers (non-English communicator) that impede study participation
* currently receiving a psychological therapy
* having a prior experience in ACT
* having psychiatric hospitalizations or diagnoses of mental illness in the previous two years
* taking antipsychotic or anticonvulsant medication at the time of recruitment
* considering or planning to place family members of PwD in a nursing home within four months or
* having the possibility of study dropouts due to other medical conditions of family members with dementia (e.g., conditions that may impede study participation due to frequent hospitalization or death)

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No