Optimising an Online Self-help Program for Coping With the Loss of a Spouse

Launched by JEANNETTE BRODBECK · Mar 4, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying an online self-help program called SOLENA, designed to help people cope with the feelings of grief after losing a spouse. Grief can be very intense and may last for a long time for some individuals. The program lasts for 10 weeks and encourages participants to work through one topic each week. The trial will compare those who complete the program with a group that will start later, looking to see if participants benefit more from following the program in a specific order or if they prefer to choose the topics based on their personal needs at the moment.

To be eligible for this trial, participants should have experienced the loss of their spouse and be looking for help in coping with their grief. They need to have access to the internet, be able to understand German, and give their consent to take part. However, those who lost a spouse less than a month ago, are feeling very suicidal, or have serious health issues that need immediate attention won't be able to participate. Overall, this study aims to find out how effective this self-help program is in reducing feelings of grief, depression, and loneliness.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Experience of spousal bereavement
• • Seeking help for coping with grief or the psychosocial adaptation to a life without the partner
• • Having access to an internet connection and adequate equipment
• • Mastery of the German language
• • An informed consent by the participant.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Loss less than one month ago
• • Acute suicidality
• • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g., due to comprehension problems, visual impairment, lack of sufficient motor skills or severe psychological or somatic disorders which require immediate treatment which impedes the continuous work on the self-help programme.