New therapy aims to ease grief and PTSD for families of ICU patients

NCT ID NCT05587517

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests a short therapy program called EMPOWER for family members who make decisions for critically ill patients in the ICU. The therapy includes breathing exercises, mindfulness, and coping techniques delivered by a mental health professional. Researchers will compare it to supportive conversation to see if it reduces grief, PTSD, and depression over a year.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: EMPOWER (a behavioral therapy combining cognitive behavioral and acceptance and commitment techniques)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide an effective, brief therapy to help family surrogates cope with grief and trauma after a loved one's critical illness.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase 2 trial with only 172 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The therapy is new and may not reduce symptoms more than supportive conversation.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CRITICAL CARE GRIEF PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAUMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10021, United States
NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States
University of Miami
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

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