Effects of a Psychological Intervention in a Primary Health Care Center for Caregivers of Dependent Relatives: A Randomized Trial

• Published in: The Gerontologist Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 397 - 406
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Sanchez, Emiliano, Patino-Alonso, Maria C, Mora-Simon, Sara, Gomez-Marcos, Manuel A, Perez-Penaranda, Anibal, Losada-Baltar, Andres, Garcia-Ortiz, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cary, NC Oxford University Press 01-06-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Attitude; Behavior Modification; Behavioral psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Carers; Clinical trials; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Dementia; Dependents; Depression - psychology; Depression - therapy; Disabilities; Disability; Female; Geriatric psychology; Health Care Services; Humans; Intervention; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Physically Handicapped; Primary care; Primary Health Care; Program Effectiveness; Psychological intervention; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Senility; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thinking; Treatment Outcome; Europe; Spain; Formation; Psychology
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gns086

Purpose: To assess, in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC), the effect of a psychological intervention in mental health among caregivers (CGs) of dependent relatives. Design and Methods: Randomized multicenter, controlled clinical trial. The 125 CGs included in the trial were receiving health care in PHC. Inclusion criteria: Identifying oneself as principal CG of a dependent relative with dementia or any other disability, and having performed this task for at least 6 months. CGs were randomized to an intervention group (cognitive-behavioral treatment for managing dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving and training in self-help techniques) or to a control group (care as usual). CG mental health (General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12]), dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving, quality of life, and burden were measured. Results: The intervention group showed improvement in mental health: A mean reduction in GHQ-12 score of -3.33 points was recorded in the intervention group vs. the control group (95% CI: -5.95 to -0.70; p = 0.01; Cohen d = 0.55). Improvement was also recorded in dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving: (-5.84; 95% CI: -10.60 to -1.09; p = 0.01; Cohen d = 0.62). Among the CGs that completed the initial and final assessments, a mean of 4.77 (SD 2.68) attended a maximum of 8 sessions. Men attended more often (5.00 sessions with SD 2.68) than women (4.70 sessions with SD 2.45; p less than 0.001). Implications: Psychological group intervention in the context of PHC, aimed at the CGs of dependent persons with dementia and other disabilities, has improved mental health condition in CGs.