RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07305415

Integrative Therapeutic Programme to Regulate Expressed Emotions Among Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia

Integrative Therapeutic Programme to Regulate Expressed Emotions Among Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Enrollment

56 participants

Start Date

Dec 20, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Depressive Symptom Caregiving Stress BPSD (Behavioral and Psycological Symptoms of Dementia)Expressed Emotion

Summary

The dual-modal (face-to-face and online approaches), client-customized Caregivers Of dementia Processing Emotions (COPE) programme aims to 1. reduce caregivers' Expressed Emotion (EE), 2. reduce caregivers' depressive symptoms, 3. reduce the behaviourally interactive social dynamic of maladaptation (i.e., dysfunctional dyadic relationship and quality of care), and 4. improve caregivers' perceived stress from PwD's Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). Researchers will compare COPE to a control group (standard therapy) to examine how effective the COPE programme is. Participants will take part in: Pretest prior to COPE implementation Post-test after COPE completion Follow up test in 3 months after COPE completion

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 100 Years

Inclusion Criteria4

(1) With a high level of EE as indicated by a cut-off score of 35 or above on the Family Attitude Scale (Chinese version; FAS-C)
(2) Provides care at least 4 hours per day
(3) Consent to participate
(4) No acute psychiatric illness

Exclusion Criteria4

(1) With a score below 35 on the Family Attitude Scale (Chinese version; FAS-C)
(2) Provides care no more than 4 hours per day
(3) Does not consent to participate
(4) With acute psychiatric illness.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCaregivers Of dementia Processing Emotions (COPE)

This is the first study to develop an easily accessible and feasible intervention programme, namely the Caregivers Of dementia Processing Emotions (COPE), to primarily reduce expressed emotion (EE) in family caregivers of PwD via processing one's attributional biases, dysregulated emotion, dysfunctional social dynamics using an integrative therapy. By displacing these negative thoughts and emotions, the integrative therapy has great potential to reduce the depressive symptoms in caregivers and thus mitigate their perceived stress from BPSD. In addition, the interactive social dynamics in the dementia caregiving context can be improved.