BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Complicated grief (CG) is severe, prolonged (>12 months) grieving. Complicated grief disproportionately affects older adults and is associated with negative physical/psychological effects. Although treatment options exist, those which do are time-intensive. We report on a randomized clinical trial (RCT) which examined whether accelerated resolution therapy (ART), a novel mind-body therapy, is effective in treating CG, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression among hospice informal caregivers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective 2 group, wait-listed RCT. All participants were scheduled to receive 4 ART sessions. INCLUSION: ≥60 years, inventory of CG >25, and PTSD checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition >33 or Psychiatric Diagnostic Screen Questionnaire PTSD subscale >5. EXCLUSION: Major psychiatric disorder, other current psychotherapy treatment. Depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 54 participants was 68.7 (7.2) years, 85% female, and 93% white. Participants assigned to ART reported significantly greater mean (SD) CG reduction (-22.8 [10.3]) versus Wait-list participants (-4.3 [6.0]). Within-participant effect sizes (ESs) for change from baseline to 8-week post-treatment were CG (ES = 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.47; P < .0001), PTSD (ES = 2.40 [95% CI: 1.79-3.00]; P < .0001), depression (ES = 1.63 [95% CI: 1.18-2.08; P < .0001). Treatment effects did not substantially differ by baseline symptom levels. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Results suggests that ART presents an effective and less time-intensive intervention for CG in older adults. However, it should undergo further effectiveness testing in a larger, more diverse clinical trial with a focus on determining physiological or behavioral mechanisms of action.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Complicated grief (CG) is severe, prolonged (>12 months) grieving. Complicated grief disproportionately affects older adults and is associated with negative physical/psychological effects. Although treatment options exist, those which do are time-intensive. We report on a randomized clinical trial (RCT) which examined whether accelerated resolution therapy (ART), a novel mind-body therapy, is effective in treating CG, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression among hospice informal caregivers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective 2 group, wait-listed RCT. All participants were scheduled to receive 4 ART sessions. INCLUSION: ≥60 years, inventory of CG >25, and PTSD checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition >33 or Psychiatric Diagnostic Screen Questionnaire PTSD subscale >5. EXCLUSION: Major psychiatric disorder, other current psychotherapy treatment. Depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 54 participants was 68.7 (7.2) years, 85% female, and 93% white. Participants assigned to ART reported significantly greater mean (SD) CG reduction (-22.8 [10.3]) versus Wait-list participants (-4.3 [6.0]). Within-participant effect sizes (ESs) for change from baseline to 8-week post-treatment were CG (ES = 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.47; P < .0001), PTSD (ES = 2.40 [95% CI: 1.79-3.00]; P < .0001), depression (ES = 1.63 [95% CI: 1.18-2.08; P < .0001). Treatment effects did not substantially differ by baseline symptom levels. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Results suggests that ART presents an effective and less time-intensive intervention for CG in older adults. However, it should undergo further effectiveness testing in a larger, more diverse clinical trial with a focus on determining physiological or behavioral mechanisms of action.
Authors: Kevin E Kip; Diego F Hernandez; Amy Shuman; Ann Witt; David M Diamond; Sheryl Davis; Ryan Kip; Alisha Abhayakumar; Trudy Wittenberg; Sue Ann Girling; Steve Witt; Laney Rosenzweig Journal: Mil Med Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 1.437
Authors: Kevin E Kip; Carrie A Elk; Kelly L Sullivan; Rajendra Kadel; Cecile A Lengacher; Christopher J Long; Laney Rosenzweig; Amy Shuman; Diego F Hernandez; Jennifer D Street; Sue Ann Girling; David M Diamond Journal: Behav Sci (Basel) Date: 2012-06-18
Authors: Harleah G Buck; Karen Lyons; Philip Barrison; Paula Cairns; Tina Mason; Cindy Tofthagen; Kevin Kip Journal: West J Nurs Res Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 1.967