Coping with dementia: evaluation of four nonpharmacologic interventions.
To evaluate nonpharmacologic interventions, caregivers (65 women, 38 men) and their dementia-diagnosed spouses (patients) were randomized to one of four treatment programs (cognitive stimulation, dyadic counseling, dual supportive seminar, and early-stage day care) or to a wait-list control group. Assessments occurred initially and at postintervention (3 months). Patients were evaluated on memory, verbal fluency, and problem-solving ability, and caregivers were assessed on marital interaction, emotional status, and physical health, along with stress, coping, and social support. Caregivers also completed a program evaluation. Repeated measures procedures showed that patients in the cognitive stimulation group demonstrated more improvement over time in cognitive outcomes, and caregivers decreased in depressive symptoms. Early-stage day-care and dual supportive seminar group caregivers reported a decrease in hostility and a decrease in use of negative coping strategies, respectively. Although qualitatively derived benefits differed across groups, similarities in program content reduced the potential for quantitative differentiation among the groups.
Quayhagen
M P
MP
School of Nursing, University of San Diego, California 92110, USA. mquay@acusd.edu
Quayhagen
M
M
Corbeil
R R
RR
Hendrix
R C
RC
Jackson
J E
JE
Snyder
L
L
Bower
D
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011897:Random Allocation; D016896:Treatment Outcome