Understanding how effective 'induced after-death communication' therapy is in helping people deal with grief and what factors influence the results

ISRCTN	ISRCTN10485391
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10485391
Secondary identifying numbers	H-2023-207

Submission date: 23/03/2025
Registration date: 24/03/2025
Last edited: 24/03/2025

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Grief is a normal human experience, but some people experience intense sadness that lasts for months or years, making everyday life difficult. Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) therapy is a brief, two-session treatment that may help people process their grief and feel reconnected with loved ones who have passed away. This study aimed to test whether IADC therapy helps reduce grief symptoms, and to explore which factors might predict better outcomes.

Who can participate?
Adults aged 18 and older who were grieving the loss of a loved one and had experienced that loss at least six months prior were eligible. All participants needed to speak English and be able to tolerate strong emotions during therapy.

What does the study involve?
Participants first completed a screening interview to ensure suitability. They then completed online surveys at four points: one month before therapy, just before therapy, just after therapy, and one month after therapy. Therapy involved two 90-minute sessions focused on reducing the sadness of grief using a specialised technique involving eye movements or tapping (bilateral stimulation). Some participants also reported sensing the presence of their deceased loved one during therapy.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Many participants reported feeling “lighter” and better able to move forward after the therapy. Benefits may include reduced sadness and stronger feelings of connection with the deceased. Risks include temporary emotional discomfort when recalling sad memories, and feeling tired after therapy sessions.

Where is the study run from?
The study was conducted by two psychologists in private practice—one in Adelaide, South Australia, and one in Queensland. Some sessions were delivered in person, others via Zoom.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study began in July 2023 and data collection finished in early 2024. The write-up is currently underway.

Who is funding the study?
This study received no external funding and was conducted voluntarily by the lead researcher.

Who is the main contact?
Dr Tom Nehmy
School of Psychology
University of Adelaide
tom.nehmy@adelaide.edu.au

Contact information

Dr Thomas Nehmy
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

School of Psychology
The University of Adelaide
North Terrace Campus
Adelaide
5005
Australia

ORCID ID	0009-0001-4606-948X
Phone	+61 8 8313 4763
Email	tom.nehmy@adelaide.edu.au

Study information

Study design	Interventional wait-list controlled trial
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Wait list controlled trial
Study setting(s)	Internet/virtual, Other therapist office
Study type	Treatment
Participant information sheet	ISRCTN10485391 participant-information-sheet-2023_IADC Therapy Study_V1.1.pdf
Scientific title	Efficacy and predictors of outcome of Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) therapy in treating grief
Study acronym	IADC Study
Study hypothesis	The primary hypothesis is that IADC Therapy will have therapeutic effects on grief symptoms and sadness.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 29/08/2023, Human Research Ethics Committee, University of Adelaide (LEVEL 3, RUNDLE MALL PLAZA 50 RUNDLE MALL, Adelaide, 5000, Australia; +61883135137; hrec@adelaide.edu.au), ref: H-2023-207
Condition	Treatment of grief in bereaved adults
Intervention	Bereaved English-speaking adults in Australia were provided with Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Therapy following a one-month waitlist (control) period.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure	1. Grief Symptoms as measured using the International Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale at Time 1 (start of waitlist period), Time 2 (end of one-month baseline waitlist period), and Time 4 (one-month follow-up post-treatment). 2. Average Daily Sadness - subjective self-report on a 0-10 scale at Time 1 (start of waitlist period), Time 2 (end of one-month baseline waitlist period), and Time 4 (one-month follow-up post-treatment).
Secondary outcome measures	1. Depression as measured by the Depression, Anxiety & Stress Scale (DASS-21) 2. Occurrence of after-death communication (ADC) as measured by self-report at Time 3 (immediately posttreatment) and Time 4 (one month follow-up) 3. Ongoing bonds as measured by the Continuing Presence subscale of the Ongoing Attachment Inventory at Time 1 (start of waitlist period), Time 2 (end of one-month baseline waitlist period), and Time 4 (one-month follow-up post-treatment). 4. Grief as measured by the Hogan Grief Reaction Checklist at Time 1 (start of waitlist period), Time 2 (end of one-month baseline waitlist period), and Time 4 (one-month follow-up post-treatment).
Overall study start date	01/07/2023
Overall study end date	16/07/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	45
Total final enrolment	45
Participant inclusion criteria	1. English-speaking 2. Adults (>18 years) 3. Within Australia
Participant exclusion criteria	1. Suicidality 2. If less than six months had passed since the loss 3. If clients were unwilling or unable to tolerate high levels of emotion or distress in confronting their grief and sadness.
Recruitment start date	10/09/2023
Recruitment end date	15/05/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Australia

Study participating centres

Moveon Counselling

168 Main Rd
Blackwood
5051
Australia

John Daniels Psychology

Suite 55, Level 2, Niecon Plaza, 19 Victoria Ave
Broadbeach
4218
Australia

Healing Grief International Pty Ltd

10 Scroop Rd
Hawthorndene
5051
Australia

Sponsor information

The University of Adelaide
University/education

Level 4, Rundle Mall Plaza
50 Rundle Mall
Adelaide
5005
Australia

Phone	+61 8 8313 5208
Email	research.services@adelaide.edu.au
Website	https://www.adelaide.edu.au
"ROR"	https://ror.org/00892tw58

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date	01/05/2025
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination plan	Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing plan	The individual-level data collected in this study includes sensitive health information from bereaved participants in a therapeutic context. Due to confidentiality, privacy obligations, and ethical constraints, this data will not be made publicly available. Consent was obtained on the basis that data would be stored securely and accessed only by the research team.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	version 1.1	20/08/2023	24/03/2025	No	Yes

Additional files

ISRCTN10485391 participant-information-sheet-2023_IADC Therapy Study_V1.1.pdf

Editorial Notes

24/03/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by The University of Adelaide.