title: Clinically significant effects of group cognitive behavioral therapy on spouse caregivers' mental health and cognitive functioning: a pilot study.
abstract: The objective of this pilot study was to investigate whether group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in caregiver mood, burden, and cognition. We screened 97 caregivers in Toronto, Canada, of whom 25 with DSM-IV disorders began the 13-week CBT intervention, and 12 completed therapy and the 3-month follow-up. Each caregiver experienced clinically significant improvement on at least 2 of the following outcomes: diagnostic criteria, mood, attention, memory, and caregiver burden. Despite effectiveness, the challenges of recruiting distressed caregivers for therapy suggest that CBT might be most useful as part of a stepped care model of treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Manitoba , Winnipeg , Canada.
authors.forename: Corey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Ursula J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Wiprzycka
authors.forename: Nasreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome