title: Effectiveness of weekly cognitive stimulation therapy for people with dementia and the additional impact of enhancing cognitive stimulation therapy with a carer training program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a widely used, evidence-based intervention for people with dementia (PwD). Although designed as a 14 session, twice weekly intervention, many services in the UK deliver CST once a week for 14 weeks. However, this method of delivery has yet to be evaluated. In addition, CST does not include any formal carer training. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of once weekly CST and determine any additional impact when enhanced with a carer training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty eight PwD and their carers were recruited through three community Memory Assessment Services. PwD and their carers were randomized to one of three conditions: CST plus carer training, CST only, or a wait list control. PwD were administered standardized measures of cognition, quality of life, and quality of relationship with carer at baseline and the 15 week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no baseline differences across the three groups. At follow-up, there were no significant differences between PwD in the three groups on any outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly CST with or without carer training may not be an effective form of delivery. Several possible explanations for the outcomes are proposed. Weekly CST may not offer the necessary "dose" required to combat decline, and equally the carer training may have been too brief to have made a difference. Services currently offering weekly CST should collect routine outcome data to support its use and provide practice-based evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cove
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, City University, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Service, South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Bedford, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stott
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D062072:Patient Acuity; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; caregiver; cognition; intervention