Empathy and compassion training for people with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers
Tests 6-week empathy and compassion training in people with Parkinson's disease and caregivers.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Empathy and (Self-)Compassion in Parkinson's Disease Patients and Caregivers
Key facts
- Where
- Lugano, SwitzerlandSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 50 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT07097298, who can take part
Where in Switzerland
- Istituto di Neuroscienze Cliniche della Svizzera Italiana, EOCLugano, SwitzerlandTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Alain Kaelin
- Trial code
- NCT07097298
- Record updated
- 1 December 2025
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to improve quality of life in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients by increasing their empathy and their (self-)compassion. The main question it aims to answer is:Read full original descriptionShow less
Empathy and (Self-)Compassion to Improve the Quality of Life of Parkinson's Disease Patients and Caregivers: an Exploratory Study
The goal of this clinical trial is to improve quality of life in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients by increasing their empathy and their (self-)compassion. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does the level of quality of life in PD patients and caregivers improve after empathy/(self-)compassion training?
Participants will be delivered a 6-week empathy and compassion training (mindfulness, writing and poetry exercises addressing the cognitive, emotional, motivational and behavioural components of (self-)compassion) and will also be asked to answer questionnaires before and after the training
Inclusion: Diagnosis of PD; Hoehn and Yahr scale, stage ≤ 3; Mini Mental State Examination with a score ≥ 26; Able to give informed consent as documented by signature; At least, secondary school education; To have a regular caregiver at home; Taking care of the patient on a regular basis, i.e., at least 3 days per week; Being caregiver of the patients for at least 3 months; At least, secondary school education; Written informed consent.
Exclusion: Any medical condition that is not PD, such as drug induced parkinsonism; Other neurological or psychiatric diseases; Neuropsychological scores compatible with the diagnosis of early dementia; Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, etc; For CAREGIVERS:; Major depression, dysthymia, or according to DSM-V.