Dementia Related Hallucinations and Delusions V1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Exploring the Experiences of Family Caregivers of People Experiencing Dementia Related Hallucinations and Delusions.

  • IRAS ID

    347212

  • Contact name

    Lauren Edwards

  • Contact email

    le236@canterbury.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Canterbury Christ Church University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 2 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Research shows that caregivers of people living with dementia experience caregiving related difficulties such as stress which can have a negative impact on both the caregiver and the person living with dementia. There is evidence to suggest that these difficulties can worsen when someone living with dementia also experiences related hallucinations, i.e. seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not present to other people, or delusions, i.e. having a strong belief about oneself, others, or the world that is not shared by other people. Currently, there seems to be limited research exploring these experiences. The study aims to explore the unique experiences of family caregivers and identify their specific challenges and coping strategies. The study will involve recruiting 10 participants who are adult family caregivers of people living with dementia related hallucinations and/or delusions. Each participant will be invited to one interview which will last up to one hour. The interview will either take place face to face at the participant's home or at an NHS site, or it will be conducted remotely via video call or phone call. The interview will involve asking participants questions about their experience of being a caregiver to a family member who is experiencing dementia related hallucinations and/or delusions. Participants will be recruited from services connected to Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT). If the recruitment of family caregivers within SPFT is limited, we will consider extending recruitment to an additional NHS Trust, such as Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, or Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

  • REC name

    London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/LO/0790

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Oct 2024

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion