Family dementia caregivers with suicidal ideation improve with mentalizing imagery therapy: Results from a pilot study
Saira Madarasmi, Paulina Gutierrez-Ramirez, N. Barsoum, Sreya Banerjee, Liliana A. Ramirez Gomez, Maria Melero‐Dominguez, Laura N. Gitlin, A. Pederson, Richard T. Liu, Felipe A Jain
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100721 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | Family caregivers of persons living with dementia, including cohorts with suicidal ideation (n=23) and without (n=23) |
| Interventions | Mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) psychosocial support group (SG) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, with 4-month follow-up |
| Key findings | Among caregivers with suicidal ideation, mentalizing imagery therapy produced greater improvements than a psychosocial support group in suicidal ideation and depression immediately after the 4-week program, and in other secondary outcomes at 4-month follow-up; the support group showed no acute SI benefit. Participation was feasible, with similar attendance and home practice between caregivers with and without SI. |
Abstract
Background: Family caregivers of persons living with dementia often experience increased depression and suicidal ideation (SI). However, the feasibility and impact of therapies on caregiver SI has remained largely unexplored. Mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) helps reduce psychological symptoms through mindfulness and guided imagery. This pilot study examined the feasibility of participation by caregivers with SI in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of MIT versus a psychosocial support group (SG), and the respective impact of group on SI, depression, and secondary outcomes.
Methods: A secondary analysis of data from an RCT of 4-week MIT or SG for caregivers (n = 46) was performed, identifying SI (n = 23) and non-SI (n = 23) cohorts. Group attendance and home practice were compared between cohorts. In the SI cohort (total n = 23, MIT n = 11, SG n = 12), group differences in SI, depression, and secondary outcomes were evaluated post-group and at 4-month follow-up.
Results: Attendance in both groups and home practice in MIT were similar between SI and non-SI cohorts. In the SI cohort, MIT evinced greater improvements relative to SG in SI (p=.02) and depression (p=.02) post-group, and other secondary outcomes at follow-up.
Limitations: Limitations include small sample size and single-item assessments of SI from validated depression rating scales.
Conclusions: Participation in an RCT was feasible for caregivers with SI. MIT resulted in important benefits for SI and depression, while SG showed no acute SI benefit. The role of MIT in improving SI should be confirmed with adequately powered trials, as effective therapies to address caregiver SI are critical.
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- 4-week Mentalizing Imagery Therapy for family dementia caregivers: A randomized controlled trial with neural circuit changes Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics March 14, 2022
- Mentalizing imagery therapy to augment skills training for dementia caregivers: protocol for a randomized, controlled trial of a mobile application and digital phenotyping Contemporary Clinical Trials March 1, 2022
- Mentalizing imagery therapy for depressed family dementia caregivers: Feasibility, clinical outcomes and brain connectivity changes Journal of Affective Disorders Reports February 8, 2021
- Mentalizing Imagery Therapy: Theory and case series of imagery and mindfulness techniques to understand self and others Mindfulness May 31, 2018
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