Table 3.

Expected quantitative results

Outcome	Question	Data	Analysis	Expected result
Main	Is the psychological state improved?	Global Severity Index on the Brief Symptom Inventory	ANCOVA of T1-T0, T2-T0, T0 as dependent, treatment condition as fixed factor	Experimental group statistically and clinically significantly improved compared with SAU
Secondary	Is optimism improved?	Life Orientation Test-Revised	ANCOVA of T1-T0, T2-T0, T0 as dependent, treatment condition as fixed factor	Experimental group statistically and clinically significantly improved compared with SAU
	Is quality of life improved?	36-item Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey-Mental Component Score	ANCOVA of T1-T0, T2-T0, T0 as dependent, treatment condition as fixed factor	Experimental group statistically and clinically significantly improved compared with SAU
	Is the burden reduced?	Zarit Burden Interview	ANCOVA of T1-T0, T2-T0, T0 as dependent, treatment condition as fixed factor	Experimental group statistically and clinically showed significant reduction compared with SAU
	Is the patient’s social and occupational function improved?	Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale	ANCOVA of T0-T2, T0 as dependent, treatment condition as fixed factor	Experimental group statistically reported improvements for patients compared with SAU

ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; SAU, support as usual.