Family Dementia Caregivers with Suicidal Ideation Improve with Mentalizing Imagery Therapy: Results from a Pilot Study

Overview

Journal J Affect Disord Rep

Date 2024 May 13

PMID 38737194

Authors

Saira Madarasmi

Paulina Gutierrez-Ramirez

Nader Barsoum

Sreya Banerjee

Liliana Ramirez Gomez

Maria Melero-Dominguez

Laura N Gitlin

Aderonke Pederson

Richard T Liu

Felipe A Jain

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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 ( = 46) was performed, identifying SI ( = 23) and non-SI ( = 23) cohorts. Group attendance and home practice were compared between cohorts. In the SI cohort (total = 23, MIT = 11, SG = 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 (=.02) and depression (=.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.

Citing Articles

Commentary on Suicide in Family Caregivers: State of the Field.

Jain F J Am Geriatr Soc. 2025; 72(12):3941-3944.

PMID: 39816987 PMC: 11729413. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19055.

Early Childhood Adversity Predicts Risk of Family Caregiver Suicidal Ideation:Roles of Neuroticism and Self-Compassion.

Jain F, Gutierrez-Ramirez P, Zea M, Okereke O, Van Orden K, Pedrelli P Res Sq. 2024; .

PMID: 39372937 PMC: 11451634. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4803419/v1.

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