Mobile App Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers

Overseen By Felipe A Jain, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Mania, Suicide attempt, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

135 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a smartphone app delivering Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT) to help family caregivers of dementia patients reduce stress. The therapy uses mindfulness and guided imagery to improve understanding of oneself and others. It aims to make stress reduction more accessible for caregivers who can't attend in-person sessions. Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT) has been studied for its potential to reduce stress and improve well-being among family caregivers of dementia patients.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Felipe A Jain, MD

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts General Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for family caregivers aged 60 or older who regularly use a smartphone and are the primary caregiver for a relative with dementia. They must speak English fluently. Those with recent suicide attempts, cognitive impairments, unstable medical conditions, substance abuse issues, active psychosis or mania, or frequent mindfulness practices are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

You are the main person taking care of a family member with memory problems (as identified by yourself).

Fluent in the English language

I am 60 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You have tried to harm yourself in the past 6 months or currently want to harm yourself.

You have practiced mindfulness or guided imagery more than once a week in the last three months.

You have had problems with drugs or alcohol in the past six months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Mentalizing Imagery Therapy and caregiver skills training via a mobile application

8 weeks

Remote app usage

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychological outcomes and app usage effects

16 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Caregiver skills mobile application
• Mentalizing Imagery Therapy and caregiver skills mobile application

Trial Overview The study tests if a mobile app delivering Caregiver skills (CS-App) combined with Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT), which includes mindfulness and guided imagery exercises to reduce stress, is more effective than the CS-App alone in reducing caregivers' perceived stress over an 8-week period and at a 24-week follow-up.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mentalizing Imagery Therapy and caregiver skills mobile application Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Caregiver skills mobile application Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+