Supporting Our Caregivers In ADRD Learning (SOCIAL)

Summary

Building on limitations of prior research, the investigators developed the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care Program (MASC) to help caregivers of persons with Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) manage stress associated with the general caregiver experience including stress stemming from managing challenging patient behaviors. MASC teaches: (1) mindfulness skills; (2) compassion and self-compassion skills; and (3) behavioral management skills. MASC also provides psychoeducation and group-based training and skill practice to facilitate skill uptake and integration within the caregiver experience and tasks.

The main aim is to: Demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, credibility, fidelity, preliminary efficacy and evidence for proposed mechanism of MASC through a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Relevant stakeholders (caregivers of persons with ADRD) will participate in the intervention.

Conditions

• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
• Quality of Life
• Caregiver Stress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care Program (MASC)

The intervention arm will be comprised of: Six Virtual Group Sessions. The sessions will teach mindfulness, self-compassion and behavioral management skills. At Home Practice. After each group session, participants will have the opportunity to integrate the practices learned into their everyday life.

BEHAVIORAL

Health Education Program (HEP)

The control arm will be comprised of: Six Virtual Group Sessions. The sessions will discuss caregiver stress, sleep hygiene, nutrition, and ways to stay physically active as a caregiver. At Home Practice. After each group session, participants will have the opportunity to complete journal exercises that encourage them to integrate the health information that they learn into their daily lives.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  collaborator NIH

• University of California, San Francisco

  collaborator OTHER

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD · Massachusetts General Hospital

• Christine Ritchie, MD, MSPH · Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-03-22

Primary Completion

2025-05-28

Completion

2025-05-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations