Recovering Together: Building Resiliency in Dyads of Patients Admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Their Caregivers
| Status: | Not yet recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 10/26/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2020 |
| Contact: | Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD |
| Email: | avranceanu@mgh.harvard.edu |
| Phone: | 617-724-4977 |
The investigators will compare a dyadic intervention (Recovering Together) with an attention
placebo educational control in dyads of patients with acute neurological illnesses and their
caregivers at risk for chronic emotional distress. The primary aim of this study is to
determine the feasibility, credibility, and satisfaction with Recovering Together. The second
aim is to show proof of concept for sustained improvement in emotional distress, post
traumatic stress (PTS), resiliency and interpersonal communication outcomes in patients and
caregivers.
placebo educational control in dyads of patients with acute neurological illnesses and their
caregivers at risk for chronic emotional distress. The primary aim of this study is to
determine the feasibility, credibility, and satisfaction with Recovering Together. The second
aim is to show proof of concept for sustained improvement in emotional distress, post
traumatic stress (PTS), resiliency and interpersonal communication outcomes in patients and
caregivers.
The investigators aim to improve the care of patients (pts) admitted to the Neuroscience
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their family caregivers (cgs) by conducting a pilot
feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT; N=80 dyads; 60 completers) of the dyadic
resiliency program ("Recovering Together") to prevent chronic emotional distress in both pts
and their cgs. Eligible dyads include adult, English speaking pts with acute neurological
injury (ANI) admitted to the NICU, cleared medically and cognitively for participation by the
nursing team, and their primary cgs. Dyads who are randomly assigned to "Recovering Together"
will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person at hospitalization and 4 through live video
after discharge, to reduce burden and facilitate access to care) led by a clinical
psychologist. Dyads who are randomly assigned to the attention placebo educational control
condition will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person and 4 through live video with a
clinical psychologist), modeled after the Recovering Together program that will control for
the dose of the intervention and support from therapist. Dyads will complete assessment
surveys before, after the intervention and 3 months later. Clinical data on demographics,
diagnosis, ANI severity, and any medical complications will be extracted from electronic
health records.
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their family caregivers (cgs) by conducting a pilot
feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT; N=80 dyads; 60 completers) of the dyadic
resiliency program ("Recovering Together") to prevent chronic emotional distress in both pts
and their cgs. Eligible dyads include adult, English speaking pts with acute neurological
injury (ANI) admitted to the NICU, cleared medically and cognitively for participation by the
nursing team, and their primary cgs. Dyads who are randomly assigned to "Recovering Together"
will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person at hospitalization and 4 through live video
after discharge, to reduce burden and facilitate access to care) led by a clinical
psychologist. Dyads who are randomly assigned to the attention placebo educational control
condition will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person and 4 through live video with a
clinical psychologist), modeled after the Recovering Together program that will control for
the dose of the intervention and support from therapist. Dyads will complete assessment
surveys before, after the intervention and 3 months later. Clinical data on demographics,
diagnosis, ANI severity, and any medical complications will be extracted from electronic
health records.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and female patients, 18 years or older
- English fluency and literacy
- Access to high speed internet for video sessions
- Patient with an informal cg (family or friend who provides unpaid care) available and
willing to participate
- Hospitalized with ANI within 1-2 weeks OR the primary caregiver of a patient currently
admitted with an ANI
- Either patient or caregiver within the dyads screens in for depression, anxiety,
and/or PTSD
Exclusion Criteria:
- Permanent or severe cognitive impairment severe enough to impede participation - This
will be determined by nurses through an assessment conducted as part of usual care
(MMSE and GSC).
- Dyads where the patient is anticipated to die or to never be able to participate due
to medical sequelae.
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