Tag: Psychoeducation program

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Effectiveness of a culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention for family caregivers of children with hematologic malignancy: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and evaluate a culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention to address the severe psychological distress and caregiving burden commonly experienced by caregivers of newly diagnosed pediatric hematologic malignancy patients during the early stages of illness.MethodsAmong 116 randomized caregivers, 90 completed all three assessments and were included in the complete-case analysis. The intervention group received a 4-week psychoeducation program delivered by medical social workers, whereas the control group received routine care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 48-day follow-up.ResultsCompared with controls, caregivers in the intervention group showed greater reductions in depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms after the intervention, and these reductions were maintained at follow-up. Caregiver burden showed a delayed reduction, with between-group differences becoming apparent at follow-up. Anxiety levels decreased over time in both groups, but the group × time interaction was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention was associated with reductions in depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms and a delayed reduction in caregiver burden, but did not show an additional effect on anxiety beyond routine care. These findings provide preliminary support for structured, culturally responsive psychoeducational support in pediatric hematology settings.
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Text Messaging for Mental Health Promotion With Migrants Returning to Mexico: Content Development and Piloting With a Needs Assessment Approach

Background: Returning migrants face a variety of challenges that limit their ability to integrate and adapt to Mexico. This represents a break in their life trajectory, with effects on family dynamics, mid- and long-term projects, and uncertainty about short-term plans. Objective: This study describes the coproduction approach used to design and develop a WhatsApp-based psychoeducational program entitled “Here Again: Coping With Return,” which aims to promote the adoption of self-care behaviors to reduce the risk of mental health and substance use problems among returning migrants. Methods: The process included four phases: (1) a situational diagnosis of the needs of migrants in preventing mental health problems and reducing the risks associated with alcohol use, (2) the design and development of content, (3) evaluation by a group of experts in mental health and substance use, and (4) pilot testing. Results: The study identified 4 intervention pillars: emotional risk factors, coping strategies, barriers to care, and technological feasibility. Eighty WhatsApp messages were developed, focusing on mental health (n=52, 65%) and alcohol use (n=20, 25%) through a sequence of motivation, instruction, and reinforcement. Following an expert evaluation that simplified technical language, a pilot study with 14 migrants showed a 78.6% completion rate. Participants reported the successful application of emotional management tools and a preference for text-based messages over audiovisual content to conserve mobile data. Conclusions: This study describes the development of a psychoeducational program for returning migrants based on coproduction, integrating user needs and expert experience. The intervention addresses emotional management, self-care, and substance use prevention, using WhatsApp for its accessibility and low cost. The pilot results demonstrated high acceptability and a 78.6% retention rate over 16 weeks, highlighting that the culturally sensitive approach and accessible language enabled participants to apply mental health tools autonomously and effectively.
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Personalized Pharmaco-Lifestyle Interventions for Severe Mental Illnesses (LIFETRAIN)

Conditions: Severe Mental Illness; Depression / Major Depressive Disorder; Bipolar Disorder (BD); Schizophrenia

Interventions: Drug: Semaglutide (SEMA); Behavioral: Exercise module; Behavioral: Anti-inflammatory diet module; Behavioral: Sleep intervention module; Behavioral: Social prescribing module; Device: Closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (CL-tACS); Behavioral: Structured lifestyle psychoeducation; Device: Sham CL-tACS

Sponsors: Ludwig-Maximilians – University of Munich

Not yet recruiting
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Family psychoeducation to support patients with psychotic illness: two-year outcomes from a pre–post longitudinal pilot study

BackgroundPsychoeducation for families of young adults with psychosis is an evidence-based intervention that alleviates carer burden. The implementation of programming is limited, leaving family carers shouldering a heavy burden without appropriate support.ObjectiveThis pre-post longitudinal pilot study evaluated the preliminary outcomes of a psychoeducational group intervention for family carers of young adults with psychosis, aimed at building skills and reducing carer burden to support recovery in their loved ones.MethodsThe intervention, co-developed and co-facilitated by healthcare professionals and individuals with family lived experience, was delivered in Edmonton, Canada. Participants (n= 13) completed the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS) at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6, 12, and 24-month follow-up. Linear mixed models assessed burden scores over time.ResultsThe overall model of total burden did not reach statistical significance. Exploratory post-hoc comparisons indicated a significant total burden reduction from pre-intervention to 6-months (p = 0.032), with no other significant changes. The overall family interaction burden subscale model showed no significant effect of time. Exploratory post-hoc analyses indicated a decrease in family interaction burden from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.026) and to 6- months (p = 0.032), with no other significant changes.ConclusionThis pilot study provides preliminary and hypothesis-generating findings suggesting a co-produced, skills- and knowledge-based psychoeducational intervention may be associated with reductions in carer burden, particularly in the domain of family relations. Given the small sample size, further research with sufficient statistical power is warranted to evaluate the long-term impact and accessibility of the intervention and inform its integration into early psychosis care.
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iCARE Self-Guided Digital Intervention for Postpartum Depression in Danish Mothers: Formative Research Using User-Centered Design

<strong>Background:</strong> Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health concern. Despite advancements in treatment, many barriers to accessing care remain. There has been a growing interest in digital interventions for the prevention and treatment of PPD. However, for mothers with mild and moderate symptoms of depression, there is a limited offer of self-guided internet-based interventions developed with user input and with considerations on how to integrate the intervention into stepped care models for PPD. <strong>Objective:</strong> The aim of this study was (1) to describe the process of the design and development of iCARE, a self-guided digital psychological intervention for mothers with mild and moderate symptoms of PPD in Denmark, (2) present the program’s theory illustrated by a logic model, and (3) explore its initial usability and prospective acceptability. <strong>Methods:</strong> Applying user-centered design methods, the intervention development followed six steps: (1) a literature review to identify evidence‑based therapeutic components of self‑guided interventions for PPD, (2) interviews with women with lived experience of PPD and group discussions with mental health experts and home‑visiting providers to identify user needs, (3) iterative design and content development with stakeholder feedback in collaboration with the Department of Digital Psychiatry, (4) prototype testing using think‑aloud usability sessions and interviews with 5 mothers, (5) a group cognitive walkthrough with mental health experts, and (6) final refinement and implementation of the iCARE program with developers and designers. <strong>Results:</strong> Initial interviews with mothers and maternal health care providers emphasized the importance of a digital intervention offering timely psychoeducation, coping strategies, and pathways to in-person care while addressing the diversity of expressions of PPD symptoms. Stakeholders recommended a flexible program, multimodal content, and integration into maternal care systems with community health nurses supporting engagement and participation. The prototype was designed to be user-centered, engaging, and with multiple interactive features. It included components on psychoeducation, cognitive exercises grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment principles, and mood-monitoring. The prototype was designed to be user-centered and engaging, with interactive features and components on psychoeducation, cognitive exercises grounded in cognitive behavioral and acceptance and commitment principles, and mood-monitoring. Prototype testing indicated high prospective acceptability and led to refinements across 6 themes: appropriateness of content; motivation and engagement; inclusivity and gender representation; clarity of instructions and data use; understanding of therapeutic method; and usability, layout, and navigation. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> iCARE is a self-guided internet-based psychological intervention for mothers with mild and moderate symptoms of PPD in Denmark. It was developed with user input by using qualitative methods, user-centered design, and psychological theory. Further research is needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the program in a randomized controlled trial and its integration into maternal health care models such as universal PPD screening and home-visiting.
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Calming Minds Study

Conditions: Anxiety; Anxiety Depression; Worry; Depression; Rumination – Thoughts

Interventions: Behavioral: Be Specific; Behavioral: Be Kind; Behavioral: Be Present; Behavioral: Break Habit; Behavioral: Psychoeducation

Sponsors: University of California, Los Angeles; University of Exeter

Not yet recruiting