Improve patient mood with compassion
- Trial ID
- NCT07097298
- Official Title
- Empathy and (Self-)Compassion to Improve the Quality of Life of Parkinson's Disease Patients and Caregivers: an Exploratory Study
- Goal
- Improve patient mood with compassion
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- Alain Kaelin
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 30 participants
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease(PD)
- Interventions
- empathy and compassion training
Summary For Families
Aims to boost quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers by teaching empathy and self-compassion skills to reduce stress, improve emotional connection, and help with day-to-day coping. Participants and their regular caregivers take part in structured training that uses practical exercises like perspective-taking, kind self-talk, and emotion-regulation techniques, so it changes how people respond to stress and caregiving strain rather than using a drug. Looking for people aged 50 to 80 with Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stage 3 or lower, able to consent with an MMSE score of 26 or higher and at least secondary education, who have a regular caregiver at home; caregivers must provide care at least 3 days per week for at least 3 months and also have at least secondary education. This is a small exploratory trial enrolling about 30 pairs, aimed at testing feasibility and early signals of benefit.
Locations
- Istituto di Neuroscienze Cliniche della Svizzera Italiana, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying empathy and compassion training. Aims to boost quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers by teaching empathy and self-compassion skills to reduce stress, improve emotional connection, and help with day-to-day coping. Participants and their regular caregivers take part in structured training that uses practical exercises like perspective-taking, kind self-talk, and emotion-regulation techniques, so it changes how people respond to stress and caregiving strain rather than using a drug. Looking for people aged 50 to 80 with Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stage 3 or lower, able to consent with an MMSE score of 26 or higher and at least secondary education, who have a regular caregiver at home; caregivers must provide care at least 3 days per week for at least 3 months and also have at least secondary education. This is a small exploratory trial enrolling about 30 pairs, aimed at testing feasibility and early signals of benefit.
- Who can participate?
- Participants must be between 50 Years and 80 Years.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- No. There is no cost to participate. Study-related care and treatment are provided at no charge.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 1 year and 8 months.
- Will I get the real drug or a placebo?
- It depends on the trial design. Some Parkinson's trials are placebo controlled, meaning a portion of participants get an inactive comparison while others get the experimental treatment. Some use crossover designs so everyone eventually receives the active treatment at some point. Observational trials do not use a placebo at all because they are not testing a new treatment. The consent form for any specific trial spells out the design and your odds of being assigned to placebo before you enroll.
- How often will I need to visit the study site?
- Visit frequency varies by trial. Many Parkinson's studies require an in person visit every 4 to 12 weeks during the active treatment phase, with shorter or longer gaps depending on the design. The site coordinator can give you the full visit schedule before you sign anything, so you know what the time commitment looks like.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Will travel or parking be reimbursed?
- Many trials reimburse for parking, mileage, and sometimes lodging if the site is far from your home. Reimbursement policies vary by sponsor and site. When you contact the trial team, ask specifically what is covered and how reimbursement is processed.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.