Helping aging caregivers of Alzheimer's patients reduce suicide risk
Reducing Suicide Risk Among Aging Caregivers of Persons With AD/ADRD: Adapting, Implementing, and Evaluating Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Interventions
This study is testing a special skills training program to help aging family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients reduce their feelings of distress and lower their risk of suicide.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years to 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Texas Tech University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lubbock, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT06055322 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project aims to adapt and evaluate a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training group intervention specifically for aging family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). The intervention seeks to address the high rates of suicide ideation among these caregivers, who experience significant distress due to their caregiving responsibilities. By tailoring DBT to meet the unique needs of this population, the study will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted skills training groups. The goal is to provide a scalable intervention that can significantly impact public health and improve suicide prevention efforts.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are primary informal caregivers aged 50 and over who live with a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias and exhibit signs of suicide risk.
Not a fit: Patients who do not meet the age requirement, are not primary caregivers, or do not exhibit suicide risk may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce suicide risk and improve mental health outcomes for aging caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar adaptations of DBT for high-risk populations, indicating potential for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * being age 50 and over (as most informal caregivers of persons with AD/ADRD are 50 or older; AARP, 2020; Chi et al., 2019) * being the primary informal caregiver * living with an AD/ADRD-diagnosed patient * being willing to be prodded for bloodspots * demonstrating English-fluency * endorsing a direct or indirect SI/suicide risk * Eligible individuals will score above clinical cutoffs for SI/suicide risk on at least 1 of 3 measures: the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-R (SBQ-R; score \> 6; Osman et al., 2002), Interpersonal Needs Question-naire (INQ; thwarted belonging score \> 35; and perceived burden \> 17; Mitchell et al., 2020) or the Geriatric De-pression Scale (GDS; score \> 5 Heisel et al., 2005). Exclusion Criteria: • Participants with neurocognitive impairment will be excluded (a Mini-Mental State Exam score ≤ 23; Folstein et al., 1975; Kochhann et al., 2010)
Where this trial is running
Lubbock, Texas
- Garrison Institute on Aging — Lubbock, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jonathan D Singer, PhD
- Email: jonsinge@ttu.edu
- Phone: 7757228066
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.