Clinical Research Directory

Painhunting Therapy for Interpersonal Loss-Related Depression

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of Painhunting therapy, a brief structured psychotherapy, for adults with significant interpersonal loss and comorbid depressive symptoms in Kazakhstan. Seventy-two participants will be randomly assigned to receive either immediate Painhunting therapy (3 sessions over 3-4 weeks) or a 4-week waitlist control condition. Therapy is delivered in-person in Astana or remotely via secure video conferencing (Zoom). Therapy sessions will be delivered by five trained Painhunting practitioners under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. The primary outcomes are changes in depression severity (PHQ-9) and complicated grief symptoms (ICG) from baseline to post-treatment. Secondary outcomes include anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and functional disability. All waitlist participants receive treatment after the waiting period.

Sleep Difficulties After Loss: Exploring the Beneficial Effect of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in a Sample of Bereaved Individuals

The goal of the study is to investigate whether a brief behavioral therapy for insomnia (BBTI) improves sleep in bereaved patients screened for insomnia compared to an active control group (sleep hygiene education). The study will also explore if BBTI improves symptoms of complicated grief. The investigators will recruit approximately 58 bereaved participants with insomnia.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Prolonged Grief Disorder

Grief is a normal response after the death of a loved one. With time, the grief response decreases and people learn to cope with their loss. However, for some, the response becomes more intense and distressing. This is called prolonged grief disorder (PGD). People with PGD experience emotional pain and a deep longing for their loved one. PGD normally occurs \<10% of people after a loss, but it has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic (\~30%). If left untreated, PGD leads to poor quality of life and increased risk of death. Treatment options such as medication and therapy are available; however, they can cause negative side effects and take a long time to work. To help individuals with PGD, we need treatments that work well and quickly. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a safe, non-invasive treatment that delivers magnetic pulses to brain areas responsible for mood. rTMS has been approved in Canada to treat mood disorders. There is research to show that rTMS is safe and well-tolerated, and that works well in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition with similar symptoms to PGD. To determine whether rTMS is effective for treating PGD, we first need to determine if rTMS as a treatment for PGD is safe and feasible among grieving individuals.