title: Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of using cognitive reappraisal to find positive gains on caregivers' depressive symptoms, burden, and psychological well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to receive a benefit-finding intervention or 1 of 2 treatment-as-usual conditions, namely, simplified psychoeducation (lectures only; SIM-PE) or standard psychoeducation (STD-PE). Each participant received 4 biweekly interventions of 3 hr each, over a 2-month period, at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that benefit-finding participants reported lower depressive symptoms after treatment, when compared with either SIM-PE (d = -0.46) or STD-PE (d = -0.50) participants. They also reported less role overload when compared with STD-PE participants (d = -0.46). Self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts was a mediator for some of the treatment effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Finding positive gains is an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms among Alzheimer caregivers. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Sheung-Tak
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Emily P M
authors.initials: EPM
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Helene H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Nethersole School of Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Diana T F
authors.initials: DTF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Linda C W
authors.initials: LCW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy