Helping patients with chronic lung disease and their caregivers manage emotional challenges

Leveraging the dyad: mechanisms of an intervention for psychological distress in chronic lung disease

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11122361

This project helps patients with chronic lung disease and their caregivers learn coping skills to manage feelings of depression and anxiety.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11122361 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people with chronic lung conditions like COPD experience significant emotional distress, and their caregivers often feel this burden too. This project offers a program called Coping Skills Training, delivered remotely over 12 weekly sessions, to help both patients and their caregivers. Together, they will learn practical strategies specifically designed to manage stress and illness related to COPD. The goal is to understand how these shared coping skills can improve well-being for both the patient and their family caregiver.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who experience psychological distress, along with their family caregivers.

Not a fit: Patients without chronic lung disease, those not experiencing psychological distress, or those without an involved caregiver may not directly benefit from this specific program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly reduce feelings of depression and anxiety for patients with chronic lung disease and their caregivers, improving their overall quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While the importance of addressing psychological distress in COPD is recognized, this project aims to fill a critical gap in understanding how best to leverage patient-caregiver relationships for palliative care interventions.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.