Group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia in Japan

Meiji Gakuin University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Family Caregivers; Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Group-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); Behavioral: Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04898413

21K03094 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

MG21PS0401

Details and patient eligibility

About

Along with more people worldwide having dementia, the number of people with dementia and their family caregivers have increased in Japan. However, psychological support for family caregivers of people with dementia is still limited in Japan. The purpose of this pilot study is to examine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for family caregivers of people with dementia in Japan compared to a group-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This study also preliminarily examines the efficacy of combining psychological intervention for family caregivers (group-based ACT/CBT) with psychological intervention for their care recipients (group-based reminiscence therapy).

Full description

This study employs quasi-experimental design to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the group-based ACT for family caregivers of people with dementia compared to the group-based CBT. Both interventions consist of eight sessions, each lasting about 90 minutes, through face-to-face or Zoom video conferencing over the course of four months. Family caregivers will be assigned to either the ACT or CBT interventions. Pre-, post-intervention, and 6 month follow-up measurements assess depression, anxiety, quality of life, cognitive appraisal of caregiving (i.e., subjective burden and positive aspect of caregiving), possible process factors (i.e., caregiving self-efficacy, experiential avoidance, and commitment), care recipients' behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and so on. This study also preliminarily examines the efficacy of combining psychological intervention for family caregivers (i.e., the group-based ACT/CBT) with those for their care recipients (i.e., group-based reminiscence therapy). The group-based reminiscence therapy will be held once or twice a month, each lasting about 60-90 minutes, over the course of about three months.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Family caregivers:

• providing care for a family member with dementia or mild cognitive impairment
• being able to speak and read Japanese
• being 20 years of age or older.

Care recipients (group-based reminiscence therapy):

• having a clear intention to participate in the intervention
• being able to speak Japanese
• being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild stage of dementia and MoCA scores ≥ 11
• obtaining consent from their family caregiver and their doctor to participate in the intervention.

Exclusion criteria

Family caregivers:

• having psychiatric disorder at the time of participation in the intervention.

Care recipients (group-based reminiscence therapy):

• having insufficient capacity to give consent to participate in the intervention
• being diagnosed with moderate to severe stage of dementia or MoCA scores < 11.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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15 participants in 2 patient groups

Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to the group-based ACT intervention will receive eight sessions through face-to-face or Zoom video conferencing over the course of four months. Participants will also receive individualized support between sessions to help them better understand the program using phone or Zoom video conferencing. If participants' care recipient hopes to receive psychological treatment, they will be invited to participate in a group-based reminiscence therapy held once or twice a month, each lasting about 60-90 minutes, over the course of about three months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Group-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants assigned to the group-based CBT intervention will receive eight sessions through face-to-face or Zoom video conferencing over the course of four months. Participants will also receive individualized support between sessions to help them better understand the program using phone or Zoom video conferencing. If participants' care recipient hopes to receive psychological treatment, they will be invited to participate in a group-based reminiscence therapy held once or twice a month, each lasting about 60-90 minutes, over the course of about three months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)