title: Brief psychotherapy in Alzheimer's disease: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there is good evidence that interventions for carers of people with Alzheimer's disease can reduce stress, no systematic studies have investigated psychotherapeutic intervention for patients themselves. This may be important in the earlier stages of Alzheimer's disease, where insight is often preserved.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess, in a randomised controlled trial, whether psychotherapeutic intervention could benefit cognitive function, affective symptoms and global well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals were randomised to receive six sessions of psychodynamic interpersonal therapy or treatment as usual; cognitive function, activities of daily living, a global measure of change, and carer stress and coping were assessed prior to and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No improvement was found on the majority of outcome measures. There was a suggestion that therapy had improved the carers' reactions to some of the symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence to support the widespread introduction of brief psychotherapeutic approaches for those with Alzheimer's disease. However, the technique was acceptable and helpful individually.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, 2nd Floor, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK. Alistair.Burns@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Else
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino-Francis
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busby
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Margison
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016896:Treatment Outcome