Emotion, Aging, and Forgiveness: Protocol for a Feasibility of Randomized Controlled Trial

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MAIA · Nov 5, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how Emotion-Focused Therapy can help older adults, aged 65 and over, deal with feelings of emotional injury related to past interpersonal offenses, like conflicts or hurts caused by others. The researchers want to see if this type of therapy can be effective and acceptable for seniors, as there haven't been many studies focused specifically on this age group. The trial will involve 70 participants who will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will start the therapy right away, while the other will wait 12 weeks before receiving the same treatment.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 65 years old, have experienced a conflict or hurt from another person, live at home or in a senior community, and be able to communicate in English or Portuguese. They should also have stable medication use and not have severe emotional injuries or other serious mental health issues. Throughout the study, participants will attend 12 weekly therapy sessions, and their progress will be monitored through surveys taken before, during, and after the therapy. If the therapy shows promise, it could lead to larger studies that will help us better understand how to support emotional well-being in older adults.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Our eligibility criteria include being 65 years or older, having experienced an interpersonal offense, residing at home or in a senior residence, stable prescribed medication use, scoring ≥ 26 on the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), and fluency in Portuguese or English.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Exclusion criteria include reporting an offense which is less than a year old, severe emotional injuries (such as being a victim of domestic violence or abuse), psychiatric disorders, suicidal ideation, parasuicidal behavior, recent loss of a loved one, involvement in other therapies or clinical studies, current alcohol or drug abuse, living with another participant, and frequent hospitalizations.