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Dignity Therapy for Patients With Early Dementia and Their Family (DTD)

University of Zurich (UZH) logo

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Dementia, Mild
Depressive Disorder

Treatments

Behavioral: Dignity Therapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT03692988
2018-0109

Details and patient eligibility

About

Developed by Harvey M. Chochinov in 2005, Dignity Therapy (DT) invites individuals with life-limiting illnesses to reflect on matters of importance to them and compiles them in a narrative document for the patient to share. DT has shown to improve quality of life and a sense of dignity, as well as supporting relatives in the process of grievance. Featuring a gradual loss of memories of the past, decline of cognitive functions and awareness of self, dementia can be regarded as a life-limiting or life-changing illness, which is often accompanied by significant psychological stress. DT may help patients and their relatives reduce this stress. Yet, no studies have been conducted to determine the benefits of DT in patients with early stage dementia (ESD). This study investigates the feasibility and acceptance of DT by patients with (very) mild dementia (CDR: 0.5 - 1.5) and their relatives, as well as their overall satisfaction. This study further seeks to determine the effects of DT on sense of dignity, quality of life, dyadic coping, and levels of anxiety and depression in a randomized controlled design.

Enrollment

54 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Signed Informed Consent
  • Diagnosis of very mild dementia
  • older 18 years of age
  • Study partner (life partner, relative, close friend) available

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to speak and read German
  • Physical or cognitive incapacity to participate

Trial design

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

54 participants in 2 patient groups

Interventiongroup
Experimental group
Description:
Dignity Therapy. Patients receive dignity-therapy-Intervention after randomization
Treatment:
Behavioral: Dignity Therapy
Waitinggroup
No Intervention group
Description:
Patients receive dignity-therapy-Intervention after a waiting time of 3 months post randomization

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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