Combining virtual mentalizing imagery therapy with caregiving skills for Spanish language Latino family dementia caregivers: a feasibility and acceptability study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSpanish‐speaking family caregivers of people living with dementia have limited supportive resources in Spanish. There are few validated, culturally acceptable virtual interventions to reduce these caregivers’ psychological distress and address caregiving skill needs. We investigated the feasibility of virtual delivery of a Spanish language adaptation of mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT), which provides guided imagery and mindfulness training to improve self‐ and other‐ understanding and reduce negative psychological symptoms, in combination with caregiver skills (CS).Methods16 Spanish‐speaking Latino family dementia caregivers enrolled in a combined 8‐week virtual MIT‐CS program. Feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with MIT‐CS were assessed. The primary psychological outcome was depressive symptoms; secondary outcomes included caregiver burden and dispositional mindfulness. Feasibility thresholds for participation were set at 75% for retention, at 75% for group attendance, and at two times per week for MIT home practice. Acceptability was evaluated as overall satisfaction with MIT‐CS of at least four points on a five‐point Likert scale. Effect sizes were estimated with Cohen’s d, and statistical significance was computed with mixed linear models.ResultsCaregivers were 58±8 (mean±SD) years of age, 81.2% female, and had an average of 14±3 years of education. 69% did not have a 4‐year college degree. 94% of participants completed the group (one participant dropped out due to time constraints). Participation in weekly group meetings was 86%. Home MIT practice was performed on average 2.2±0.3 times per week. Satisfaction with MIT‐CS reached 4.5±0.9 of a possible 5 points (most responses rated excellent). Reduction in depression was observed after completion of MIT‐CS (d = ‐.42, p = .03). There was a significant improvement in mindfulness (d = .91, p = .004) and a trend toward improvement in caregiver burden (d = ‐.44, p = .1).ConclusionsVirtual group‐delivered MIT‐CS was feasible and acceptable in a group of Latino Spanish language family dementia caregivers living in the greater Boston area. MIT‐CS demonstrated promising effect sizes for reducing depressive symptoms and caregiver burden and increasing mindfulness. Larger, randomized controlled trials of MIT‐CS should validate the efficacy of specific MIT‐CS components in this population.