Love Group for Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatients

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Awareness, Courage, and Love Group Psychotherapy: Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) groups are an outgrowth of functional analytic psychotherapy, which is an empirically-based behavioural therapy that emphasizes the principle of positive reinforcement within relationships (Holman et al., 2017; Kanter et al., 2010; Kohlenberg \& Tsai, 1991; Tsai et al., 2009a). Awareness involves the practice of mindfulness, and in particular, the noticing of emotions within oneself and in others (Tsai et al., 2009b). Courage refers to engaging in vulnerable self-disclosures and practicing boundaried support. Love encompasses healthy caring for oneself and others, and in particular, responding affirmingly to another person's self-disclosures.

Study summary

Loneliness is a key predictor of mortality in older adults, and is a prominent risk factor for mental and physical illness in older adulthood. The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a group loneliness intervention in geriatric psychiatry outpatients. This type of group loneliness intervention is based on functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP), called Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) Groups. The objective of this clinical trial is to adapt, implement, and evaluate the ACL group for outpatients.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale — Up to 2 months
  Brief measure of loneliness. The minimum value is 0, the maximum value is 11, and higher scores indicate a worse outcome.
• Attendance and attrition (defined as the number of participants that withdraw (numerator)/number of participants randomised (denominator)) — Up to 2 months
  Measure of feasibility. Captured across 8 sessions, comparing pre to post.
• Quantitative Program Satisfaction — Up to 2 months
  Brief measure of program satisfaction. The minimum value is 0, the maximum value is 16, and higher scores indicate a better outcome.
• UCLA Loneliness Scale (Neto) — Up to 2 months
  Brief measure of loneliness. The minimum value is 6, the maximum value is 24, and higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

Trial sites (1)

More London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's trials in Canada

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