Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Love Group for Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatients

This study is investigating a new type of group therapy called \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\" (ACL) for older adults who feel lonely and are already patients in a 정신과 (psychiatric department). Loneliness can significantly impact older people's health, both mentally and physically, and can even shorten their lives. This research aims to understand if the ACL group therapy can be successfully introduced and if patients find it helpful. The study will also look at whether this type of therapy shows early signs of reducing loneliness. It's designed to make sure the therapy is suitable for older adults with existing psychiatric conditions.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Enrolment target

Start

01 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

30 Dec 2028

Loneliness

What is this study about?

Feeling lonely can be really tough, especially as we get older. For older adults, loneliness isn't just an unpleasant feeling; it can actually have a big impact on their health. It's been linked to other mental health problems and can even affect physical well-being and how long someone lives.

This study is looking into a new type of group therapy designed to help older adults who feel lonely. This therapy is called \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\" (ACL) Groups. It's based on a certain approach to therapy that helps people understand their feelings and build stronger, more helpful connections with others. The main goal is to see if these ACL groups can be successfully offered to older adults who are already getting help from a psychiatric service.

The researchers want to find out two main things: first, if these groups are practical to run and if people are willing to join and find them acceptable. Second, they want to see if the groups show early signs of actually helping to reduce loneliness in these older adults. It's an important step in figuring out new ways to support the well-being of older people.

Key takeaways

Targets loneliness in older adults seeing a psychiatrist.
Tests a new group therapy called \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\".
Aims to see if the therapy is practical and helpful.
Open to people aged 60 and over with a mental health condition.
Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw anytime.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you would need to be an older adult who is currently receiving care for a mental health condition.

However, there are also some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you find it difficult to know where you are or who you are, or if you're experiencing a sudden state of confusion (sometimes called delirium), this study might not be suitable. It’s also important that you can meaningfully participate in group discussions and understand what you are agreeing to.

Finally, if you are unable to speak English, this study would not be the right fit, as the group sessions are conducted in English. The study is open to both men and women who are 60 years old or older.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 60 years old or older?
Are you currently receiving care for a mental health condition?
Can you participate in group discussions and understand what you're agreeing to?
Can you speak English?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The description provided doesn't give specific details about what taking part involves, such as the number of visits, specific assessments, or the total duration of the study. However, based on the type of intervention, we can infer a few things. You would likely be asked to attend a series of group therapy sessions, which would focus on \"Awareness, Courage, and Love.\" These sessions would involve discussing feelings and learning new ways to connect with others. There would probably be some assessments before, during, and after the group sessions to understand how you are feeling and if the therapy is helping. These assessments might involve filling out questionnaires or talking with a researcher. There is no mention of medication within the study description, as the focus is on group therapy. The study is about evaluating an intervention, so it's likely there will be some form of follow-up to see the longer-term effects of the therapy. More specific details would be given if you were to express interest in joining the study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any study has potential benefits and risks. A potential benefit of joining this study is that you might find the \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\" group therapy helpful in reducing feelings of loneliness and improving your social connections. Group therapy can also provide a supportive environment. The risks are generally low, but discussing personal feelings in a group might sometimes feel uncomfortable initially, or bring up difficult emotions. You might also have to commit time to attend the sessions and assessments. It's very important to remember that participating in a clinical trial is always voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

St. Joseph's Health Care London
Verified postcode
London, Canada

Common questions

What is \"loneliness intervention\"?

It's a way of helping people who feel lonely. This study is testing a specific type of group therapy for it.

What does \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\" group therapy mean?

It's a particular type of therapy that aims to help people become more aware of their feelings, find the courage to express themselves, and build loving, supportive relationships.

Who is running this study?

This study is being run by the \"Love Group for Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatients\" team, looking into new ways to help older adults.

Will I have to take any new medicines?

The study description doesn't mention any new medications; it focuses specifically on the \"Awareness, Courage, and Love\" group therapy.

What happens if I decide to leave the study early?

You are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.