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Feasibility and Acceptability of Videoconference-Based Family Psychoeducation for Young Adult Caregivers of Family Members With Major Depressive Disorder: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Young adult caregivers of a family member with major depressive disorder (MDD) constitute a vulnerable population. They have substantial support needs because they often experience psychological distress and daily burdens during a developmental period in which education, partnership formation, and parenting frequently overlap with caregiving responsibilities. Consequently, the burden associated with caring for a family member with MDD may adversely affect young adult caregivers' mental health and life stability. Despite these needs, support programs and intervention studies specifically targeting young adult caregivers remain scarce. Videoconference-based family psychoeducation (vFPE) may help address this gap, improving access for individuals facing time and geographic barriers. However, the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of vFPE in this population has not yet been established. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of conducting a waitlist-controlled pilot RCT of vFPE and the acceptability of the vFPE intervention among young adult caregivers of a family member with MDD. Methods: This study is a waitlist-controlled pilot RCT. Young adult caregivers (aged 18-39 y) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive 4 weekly 40-minute vFPE sessions. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability. Feasibility will be assessed by recruitment, randomization, intervention completion, dropout rates, and safety. Acceptability will be assessed using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 Japanese version. Exploratory outcomes, including anxiety and depressive symptoms, mental well-being, psychological distress, caregiver burden, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life, will be assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up via online self-administered questionnaires. Exploratory outcomes will be used to inform the design of a future definitive RCT rather than to draw conclusions about intervention effectiveness. Results: This paper describes the study protocol. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Nursing, Toho University, on December 18, 2025. Recruitment commenced on January 10, 2026, with the first participant enrolled on February 20, 2026. As of May 2026, 8 participants had been enrolled. Intervention delivery and data collection are expected to continue until March 2028. Study findings will be disseminated through presentations at academic conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Conclusions: This study will clarify the feasibility of conducting an RCT of vFPE among young adult caregivers of a family member with MDD, providing foundational data to inform the design of a future definitive RCT.

Source: JMIR Research Protocols

DOI: 10.2196/105182

Authors: Hideki Nakamura, Sho Okawa, Hiroki Tanoue, Yoshihiro Goto, Akari Matsuzawa, Keiko Ito

Institutions: Toho University, The University of Tokyo, University of Miyazaki

Language: English

Topic: Family Caregiving in Mental Illness

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,900