NCT06424483

Love Group for Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatients

Awareness, Courage, and Love Group Psychotherapy for Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatients

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Loneliness is a key predictor of mortality in older adults, and is a prominent risk factor for mental and physical illness in older adulthood. The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a group loneliness intervention in geriatric psychiatry outpatients. This type of group loneliness intervention is based on functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP), called Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) Groups. The objective of this clinical trial is to adapt, implement, and evaluate the ACL group for outpatients.

Detailed description

The objective of this clinical trial is to adapt, implement, and evaluate a type of loneliness group intervention called Awareness, Courage, and Love Groups for older adult outpatients diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The following research questions will be answered: (a) Are ACL groups with geriatric psychiatry outpatients feasible and acceptable? (b) Do such ACL groups demonstrate preliminary efficacy?

Conditions

• Loneliness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Awareness, Courage, and Love Group Psychotherapy	Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) groups are an outgrowth of functional analytic psychotherapy, which is an empirically-based behavioural therapy that emphasizes the principle of positive reinforcement within relationships (Holman et al., 2017; Kanter et al., 2010; Kohlenberg \& Tsai, 1991; Tsai et al., 2009a). Awareness involves the practice of mindfulness, and in particular, the noticing of emotions within oneself and in others (Tsai et al., 2009b). Courage refers to engaging in vulnerable self-disclosures and practicing boundaried support. Love encompasses healthy caring for oneself and others, and in particular, responding affirmingly to another person's self-disclosures.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-01
• Primary completion: 2027-12-31
• Completion: 2028-12-30
• First posted: 2024-05-22
• Last updated: 2026-01-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada