Can a conversation preserve dignity at Life's end?
NCT ID NCT07150728
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether 'dignity therapy' — a guided conversation that creates a lasting document for loved ones — helps terminally ill patients maintain dignity and reduce feelings of depression and hopelessness. Researchers in Taiwan enrolled 45 adults with terminal illnesses, randomly assigning them to receive either dignity therapy or standard hospice care. They measured changes in dignity, demoralization, and depression over several months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dignity therapy (a guided conversation and legacy document)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to help terminally ill patients feel more dignified and less depressed.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 45 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The therapy is supportive, not a cure.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.