Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jun 21, 2026
Date Accepted: Aug 31, 2026
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
ABSTRACT
Background:
Young adult caregivers of family members with major depressive disorder (MDD) are a vulnerable population. They have substantial support needs as they often experience psychological distress and daily burdens during a developmental period where work, 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 bridge this gap, offering accessibility for those facing time-related and geographic barriers. However, the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of vFPE for this population has not yet been established.
Objective:
The objective of the study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of vFPE through a waitlist-controlled pilot randomized controlled trial involving young adult caregivers of family members with MDD.
Methods:
TThis study is a waitlist-controlled pilot randomized controlled trial. Young adult caregivers (aged 18–39 years) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive 4 weekly 40-min videoconference-based family psychoeducation sessions. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability. Feasibility will be assessed by recruitment, intervention completion, dropout rates, and safety. Acceptability will be assessed using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 Japanese version. Exploratory outcomes, including depressive and anxiety 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. Data will be analyzed using descriptive and exploratory methods; consequently, no definitive conclusions regarding intervention effectiveness will be drawn.
Results:
This paper describes the study protocol. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of the 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 have been enrolled. Intervention delivery and data collection are expected to continue until December 2027.
Conclusions:
This study will clarify the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of vFPE for young adult caregivers of family members with MDD, providing foundational data to inform the design of a future full-scale randomized controlled trial. Clinical Trial: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCT1032250574; https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCT1032250574
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