Can an online happiness course ease the burden of Alzheimer's caregiving?
NCT ID NCT03610698
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested an online program called LEAF that teaches positive emotion skills to family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's. 386 caregivers were randomly assigned to a Zoom group, a self-guided group, or a control group. The goal was to see if learning these skills could reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting positive feelings.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- online positive emotion skills training (LEAF program)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a practical, low-cost way to improve mental health and reduce burden for Alzheimer's caregivers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed behavioral study, not a drug trial. Benefits may be modest and depend on caregiver engagement. Results may not apply to all caregivers.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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386 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2020
- Finished
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Sep 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult age 18 and over who identifies as the primary caregiver of a family member with Alzheimer's disease or probable Alzheimer's * Care recipient does NOT reside in care facility * Speaks and reads English * Has access to high speed internet connection at home or a location where they can speak privately with a facilitator Exclusion Criteria: * Care recipient lives in care facility * Does not speak/read English * Does not have access to internet * Care recipient does not have Alzheimer's disease
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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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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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