Group therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others: results of a waiting-list controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have to deal with an uncertain prognosis and also face a multitude of memory-related problems and psychosocial consequences. A newly developed group programme proved to be feasible, however, it needed confirmation by a controlled study.


OBJECTIVE
This controlled study evaluates this group therapy for MCI patients aimed to help them accept and manage the memory problems and the psychosocial consequences. The programme combines elements from psychoeducation, cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive-behavioural therapy.


METHODS
Ninety-three MCI patients received treatment, with 30 patients being first assigned to a waiting list, thus serving as their own control group. Pre- and post-treatment acceptance and helplessness were assessed using subscales of the Illness Cognition Questionnaire, while distress and general well-being were gauged with the Geriatric Depression Scale and subscales of the RAND-36.


RESULTS
Linear mixed model analyses showed that, relative to the controls, acceptance had increased more in the intervention group compared to the waiting-list period (p = 0.034). Distress and general well-being showed no changes. Treatment responders demonstrating a clinically significant effect on acceptance and two of three secondary outcome measures had higher baseline levels of helplessness and fewer self-reported memory complaints in daily life than patients who did not improve.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention helped the patients deal better with their uncertain future in that they were overall better able to accept their condition, with especially the female patients showing a decrease in helplessness cognitions, although the effects were relatively small.
Joosten-Weyn Banningh
Liesbeth W A
LW
Department of Medical Psychology, Alzheimer Centre Nijmegen, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. l.joosten @ mps.umcn.nl
Prins
Judith B
JB
Vernooij-Dassen
Myrra J F J
MJ
Wijnen
Hugo H
HH
Olde Rikkert
Marcel G M
MG
Kessels
Roy P C
RP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016743:Mental Competency; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists