Targeting and managing behavioral symptoms in individuals with dementia: a randomized trial of a nonpharmacological intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effects of an intervention that helps families manage distressing behaviors in family members with dementia.


METHODS
Two-group randomized trial.


METHODS
In home.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy-two caregivers and people with dementia.


METHODS
Up to 11 home and telephone contacts over 16 weeks by health professionals who identified potential triggers of patient behaviors, including communication and environmental factors and patient undiagnosed medical conditions (by obtaining blood and urine samples) and trained caregivers in strategies to modify triggers and reduce their upset. Between 16 and 24 weeks, three telephone contacts reinforced strategy use.


METHODS
Primary outcomes were frequency of targeted problem behavior and caregiver upset with and confidence managing it at 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes were caregiver well-being and management skills at 16 and 24 weeks and caregiver perceived benefits. Prevalence of medical conditions for intervention patients were also examined.


RESULTS
At 16 weeks, 67.5% of intervention caregivers reported improvement in targeted problem behavior, compared with 45.8% of caregivers in a no-treatment control group (P=.002), and reduced upset with (P=.03) and enhanced confidence managing (P=.01) the behavior. Additionally, intervention caregivers reported less upset with all problem behaviors (P=.001), less negative communication (P=.02), less burden (P=.05), and better well-being (P=.001) than controls. Fewer intervention caregivers had depressive symptoms (53.0%) than control group caregivers (67.8%, P=.02). Similar caregiver outcomes occurred at 24 weeks. Intervention caregivers perceived more study benefits (P<.05), including ability to keep family members home, than controls. Blood and urine samples of intervention patients with dementia showed that 40 (34.1%) had undiagnosed illnesses requiring physician follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeting behaviors upsetting to caregivers and modifying potential triggers improves symptomatology in people with dementia and caregiver well-being and skills.
Gitlin
Laura N
LN
Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130, USA. laura.gitlin@jefferson.edu
Winter
Laraine
L
Dennis
Marie P
MP
Hodgson
Nancy
N
Hauck
Walter W
WW
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D055817:Telenursing