RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06854718

Pain With Dementia

Caregiver-assisted Pain Coping Skills Training for Dementia Pilot Study

Sponsor

Duke University

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

Aug 13, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Pain Dementia, Mild Dementia, Moderate

Summary

The purpose of the study is to develop a caregiver-assisted pain coping skills training program for older adults who have pain and mild to moderate dementia and are living at home with a family caregiver. The investigators are planning to recruit 30 patient-caregiver dyads (60 individuals).

Eligibility

Min Age: 50 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study tests a pain management program designed for people living at home with both dementia and chronic pain, along with their caregivers. The goal is to find better ways to treat pain in people who may have difficulty communicating their symptoms. **You may be eligible if (patient):** - You are 50 years or older - You have mild or moderate dementia - You experience pain on most days that has lasted at least 3 months and affects your daily activities - You live at home (not in a nursing home or care facility) - You can speak English **You may be eligible if (caregiver):** - You provide at least 4 hours of care per day to the patient - You are 18 years or older - You can speak English **You may NOT be eligible if:** - You lack the ability to participate in an interview - You have vision, hearing, or behavioral problems that would make participation too difficult - You are too ill to participate Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCaregiver-Assisted Pain Coping Skills Training (CG-PCST)

Patient-caregiver dyads will receive five, forty-to-sixty-minute sessions over a six-to-eight-week period with a therapist to learn pain coping skills. These include training caregivers in strategies for assessing patient pain, including nonverbal pain behaviors (e.g., grimacing, bodily tension, labored breathing), which will become increasingly important as the patient's ability to express pain verbally decreases. The therapist will also train the caregiver to coach the patient in the use of the skills during activities that are challenging because of pain. We will focus on increasing positive patient-caregiver interactions and patient engagement in valued activities. Throughout the training, the therapist will help the patient and caregiver learn strategies for fostering regular home practice and application of the skills, identify challenges in using the skills, and find strategies for coping with challenges.