NCT06879665

TANDem-2: Closing the Gap to Interventions for TAND

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Vrije Universiteit Brussel · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a brief behavioral intervention - the "Well-Beans for Caregivers" program, for adult caregivers of individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) of any age. The main questions of the study are: 1. Can this innovative, ultra-brief caregiver well-being intervention be delivered feasibly to caregivers via an online modality? 2. How do the caregivers experience the program (acceptability)? 3. Does limited efficacy testing suggest the program has an impact on caregiver's well-being?

Detailed description

The investigators hypothesize that an innovative, ultra-brief caregiver wellbeing intervention developed for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities can be adapted as a universal caregiver wellbeing intervention in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), that it can be delivered feasibly in an online modality, and will result in changes in key caregiver wellbeing factors. To test these hypotheses, the researchers will adapt the 3-session 'Well-Beans for Caregivers' program through a participatory method with the TAND consortium (the TAND consortium is an international group of clinical and research professionals as well as family members living with individuals with TSC - TAND stands for TSC-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders - see tandconsortium.org). The input from the TAND Consortium will be augmented by members of TSCi (Tuberous Sclerosis International), the global network of TSC non-profit organizations. For step 2 (pilot intervention), two specialist facilitators and four trainee observers will deliver the 3-session program using ZoomPro, a secure online platform to two groups of 10-12 caregivers. Caregivers are those who provide long-term, day-to-day support and care, and this group includes parents, partners, relatives, or other family members (not paid professional caregivers). These sessions will not be recorded to ensure that participants can join the program without feeling concerned about being recorded. Data collection will use a quasi-experimental pre-post-test design. Eligible and consented participants will therefore complete baseline data as 'pre-test' and then 'post-test' data after the 3-week intervention. Following this, they will complete 3-month and 6-month data collection. Caregiver wellbeing measures will only include open access and freely available measures. The program as well as data collection will be conducted in English.

Conditions

• Adult Caregivers of Individuals With TSC
• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Well-Beans for Caregivers Program	This is a brief behavioral intervention consisting of 3 weekly 2-hour sessions. The sessions are based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and are designed to improve psychological flexibility in caregivers. This in turn is designed to help them connect with their difficult emotions and experiences in a flexible way, and improve emotional well-being.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-15
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2027-07-15
• First posted: 2025-03-17
• Last updated: 2025-09-22

Locations

2 sites across 2 countries: United States, Australia