Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Early Maladaptive Grief Study Protocol

Cindy Tofthagen; Kathy Sheffield; Deirdre R. Pachman; Jay Mandrekar; Laura A. Szalacha; Sherry S. Chesak; Lori M. Rhudy; Molly Kilpatrick; Harleah Buck

doi:10.1177/10499091241282417

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Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Early Maladaptive Grief Study Protocol

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Early Maladaptive Grief Study Protocol

Cindy Tofthagen, Kathy Sheffield, Deirdre R. Pachman, Jay Mandrekar, Laura A. Szalacha, Sherry S. Chesak, Lori M. Rhudy, Molly Kilpatrick and Harleah Buck

American journal of hospice & palliative medicine, Vol.42(9), pp.914-923

09/2025

DOI: 10.1177/10499091241282417

PMCID: PMC11880351

PMID: 39237083

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/11880351View

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Abstract

The objective of this manuscript is to present the protocol of a study aiming to test the effects of Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) on pre-loss grief and prolonged grief among older adult family caregivers. This study also aims to better understand predictors of response to ART®, and cognitive processes that occur among grieving individuals following ART®. Design: The study is a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Setting: This study takes place at both inpatient and outpatient palliative care and hospice programs at two Mayo Clinic sites. Participants: Participants include older adult ([Formula: see text] 60 years) immediate family members who are primary caregivers of someone with an advanced illness and life expectancy of less than 12 months. Intervention: Participants are randomized to either the ART® intervention group or the attention control group. In the ART® intervention, caregivers engage in imaginal exposure, lateral eye movements, and imagery rescripting via 4 sessions lasting 1-1.5 hours each. The attention control group receives a standard social work intervention, including education, resources, and active listening, which is matched for time and attention. Both interventions will longitudinally follow caregivers from active caregiving into bereavement. Outcomes Measured: The primary outcomes of pre-loss grief and prolonged grief will be measured with the Pre-Loss Grief 12 item (PG-12-R) before the care recipient’s death, and with the Prolonged Grief-13 (PG-13-R) afterwards.

pre-loss grief

prolonged grief disorder

family caregivers

accelerated resolution therapy

grief intervention

mixed methods

Details

Title: Subtitle: Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Early Maladaptive Grief Study Protocol
Creators: Cindy Tofthagen - Mayo Clinic in Florida
Kathy Sheffield - Mayo Clinic in Florida
Deirdre R. Pachman - Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Jay Mandrekar - Mayo Clinic in Florida
Laura A. Szalacha - University of South Florida
Sherry S. Chesak - Mayo Clinic
Lori M. Rhudy - Winona State University
Molly Kilpatrick - Mayo Clinic in Florida
Harleah Buck - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of hospice & palliative medicine, Vol.42(9), pp.914-923
DOI: 10.1177/10499091241282417
PMID: 39237083
PMCID: PMC11880351
NLM abbreviation: Am J Hosp Palliat Care
ISSN: 1049-9091
eISSN: 1938-2715
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Grant note: National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health: R01AG077656
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AG077656. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 09/05/2024
Date published: 09/2025
Academic Unit: Nursing
Record Identifier: 9984701821102771

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