P02.84. A randomized trial of Polarity therapy for stress and pain reduction in American Indian and Alaska Native family dementia caregivers

Purpose Caregivers of individuals with dementia experience elevated stress that places them at increased risk for health problems. The purpose of this study was to compare a complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) method, Polarity therapy (PT), to an enhanced respite control condition (ERC) to reduce stress, depression and pain for American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI) family caregivers. A mixed methods, community participatory, indigenous values approach was combined with a randomized controlled clinical trial to assure both ecological validity and scientific rigor of the investigation.