Recruiting

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Sponsor:

Mayo Clinic

Code:

NCT05624879

Conditions

Grief

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 60+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Information and Support

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose study is to test the effects of accelerated resolution therapy (ART) on pre-loss grief and prolonged grief disorder among older adult family caregivers (FCGs). Additionally, to better understand predictors of response to ART, and cognitive processes that occur among grieving individuals following ART.

Conditions

Grief

Study ID

NCT05624879

Start date

Nov 17, 2023

Status verified date

Sep, 2025

Completion date

Mar 14, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 14, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 60+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Primary caregiver of immediate family member who has a life expectancy of less than 12 months
  • Score of 30 or higher on the PG-12-R, indicating clinically significant pre-loss grief
  • Denial of suicidal ideation or intent, with no evidence of psychotic behavior.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Since becoming a family caregiver (FCG), they have engaged in another trauma based psychotherapeutic regimen (EMDR, prolonged exposure therapy, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy) that could influence response to accelerated resolution therapy (ART).
  • Self-reported or clinically assessed major psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
  • Score of > 2 on the adapted CAGE questionnaire indicating alcohol /drug dependence.
  • Cognitive impairment (SPMSQ > 4 errors).

Study Design

Enrollment

440 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Accelerated Resolution Therapy Group

Primary caregivers of an immediate family member enrolled in a hospice or palliative care program will receive 4 weekly sessions of accelerated resolution therapy (ART)

active comparator: Information and Support Group

Primary caregivers of an immediate family member enrolled in a hospice or palliative care program will receive four-time and attention matched sessions of a standardized social work intervention consisting of information and provision of emotional support.

Interventions

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

A brief psychotherapeutic intervention delivered by trained therapists in a maximum of 4 sessions. Sessions will focus on providing relief from the distress related to an anticipated loss and to shift focus from distress and loss back to the relationship.

Information and Support

4 sessions of a standardized social work intervention. Standard of care including education and active listening.

Primary outcome measure

  • Changes in pre-loss grief [ Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks ]
  • Changes in prolonged grief disorder [ Time Frame: 6 and 13 months post-bereavement ]
  • Changes in clinical measure of prolonged grief disorder [ Time Frame: 6 and 13 months post-bereavement ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Katharine E Sheffield, MA, CCRP

904-953-3972Sheffield.Katharine@mayo.edu

Locations

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Recruiting

Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85054

Suncoast Hospice

Recruiting

Clearwater, Florida, United States, 33760

Mayo Clinic Florida

Recruiting

Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224

Mayo Clinic

Recruiting

Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905

More Information

Sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Last update posted

Sep 25, 2025

Last verified

Sep, 2025

Keywords

  • Family Caregiver

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Mayo Clinic on 2025-09-25.