Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

Contact Information

Keywords

dementia caregiving, depression, cognitive reappraisal, positive aspects of caregiving, randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of using cognitive reappraisal to find positive gains on caregivers' depressive symptoms, burden, and psychological well-being. Method: Ninety-six caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to receive a benefit-finding intervention or 1 of 2 treatment-as-usual conditions, namely, simplified psychoeducation (lectures only; SIM-PE) or standard psychoeducation (STD-PE). Each participant received 4 biweekly interventions of 3 hr each, over a 2-month period, at home. Results: Results showed that benefit-finding participants reported lower depressive symptoms after treatment, when compared with either SIM-PE (d = -0.46) or STD-PE (d = -0.50) participants. They also reported less role overload when compared with STD-PE participants (d = -0.46). Self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts was a mediator for some of the treatment effects. Conclusion: Finding positive gains is an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms among Alzheimer caregivers.

Citation

Cheng, S. T., Mak, E. P. M., Fung, H. H., Kwok, T., Lee, D. T. F., & Lam, L. C. W. (2017). Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 85(5), 521–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000176

DOI

10.1037/ccp0000176

EWB Constructs:

(1) goal pursuit; (2) life satisfaction; (3) positive affect; (5) sense of meaning

EWB Measures:

(1) Psychological Well-being Scale Ryff’s (1989): Goal Pursuit, Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, Sense of Meaning

data availability:

Yes

data availability details:

Data for the study can be obtained from the corresponding author.

brain imaging paradigm:

N/A

brain region/circuit:

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclude the Care-recipient having parkinsonism or other forms of dementia (e.g., mixed dementia).

Inclusion Criteria

(a) being a primary caregiver aged 18 years or over
(b) providing ≥14 hr of care per week to a relative with Alzheimer’s disease in the mild-to-moderate stage (per Clinical Dementia Rating; Morris, 1993)
(c) a Mini-Mental State Examination (Cantonese version) score not, suggesting that cognitive impairment
(d) at least mild depressive symptoms operationalized as a score of ≥3 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Non-EWB Behavioral
Measures:

(1) Depressive symptoms: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
(2) Global Burden: Zairt Burden Interview
(3) role overload: Pearlin, Mullan, Semple, and Skaff’s (1990)
(4) behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: Neuropsychiatry Inventory (Cummings, 1997)
(5) Functional impairment: OARS Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (Fillenbaum & Smyer, 1981)

First author:

Sheung-Tak Cheng

species:

Human

sample size:

study design:

(5) RCT

longitudinal data?

Yes

younger controls?

interventions:

benefit-finding intervention

study population:

(1) cognitively healthy adults

sex (% female):

86%

ethnicity (%white)

0% (Hong Kong)

Age (mean, sd):

56.16, 10.56

biological/Physiological Measures:

N/A