title: Efficacy of a self-help manual in increasing resilience in carers of adults with depression in Thailand.
abstract: Caring for a person with a mental illness can have adverse effects on caregivers; however, little is known about how best to help such caregivers. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of a cognitive behaviour therapy-guided self-help manual in increasing resilience in caregivers of individuals with depression, in comparison to caregivers who receive routine support only. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted, following CONSORT guidelines, with 54 caregivers allocated to parallel intervention (self-help manual) (n = 27) or control (standard support) (n = 27) groups. Resilience was assessed at baseline, post-test (week 8), and follow up (week 12). Intention-to-treat analyses were undertaken. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a significant difference in resilience scores between the three time points, showing a large effect. Pairwise comparisons between intervention and control groups indicated resilience to be significantly different between baseline and post-test, and between baseline and follow up, but not between post-test and follow up. Overall, the intervention group showed a slightly greater increase in resilience over time than the control group; however, the time-group interaction was not significant. Guided self-help is helpful in improving caregivers' resilience and could be used as an adjunct to the limited support provided to carers by mental health nurses and other clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Terence V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: McCormick Faculty of Nursing, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wallapa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Songprakun
authors.affiliation: School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive behaviour therapy; controlled trial; depression; randomized; resilience; self-help