Goal Attainment and Treatment Compliance in a Cognitive-Behavioral Telephone Intervention for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
Abstract
Introduction: The evaluation of effective interventions is still needed to prevent family caregivers of persons with dementia from becoming physically or mentally ill. However, in most existing intervention studies, primary outcomes are not well matched to the treatment goals. Method: A randomized controlled trial (N = 229) was conducted to compare a treatment group (CBT), a treated control group, and an untreated control group. In theses analyses we focused on the primary outcome measurement (GAS) as a perceived treatment success as well as treatment compliance and participants’ evaluation. Results: Results showed that 30.1% achieved complete goal attainment, 39.8% partial goal attainment, and 24.1% declared no change (overachievement 2.4%; deterioration 3.6%). Discussion: The intervention can be considered to have been successful.
References
(2002). Interventions for family members caring for an elder with dementia. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 20, 149–179.
(1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International University Press.
(1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford.
(2003). Meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51, 657–664.
(2007). Predictors of adherence to a skill-building intervention in dementia caregivers. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 62, 673–678.
(2001). Psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia: A systematic review. Aging and Mental Health, 5, 120–135.
(2002). Telecommunications technology as an aid to family caregivers of persons with dementia. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64, 469–476.
(1971). Problem solving and behavior modification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78, 107–126.
(1977). Die Rational-emotive Therapie. Das innere Selbstgespräch bei seelischen Problemen und seine Veränderung [
Rational-emotive therapy. Inner talk to oneself by mental problems and their change ]. München: Pfeiffer.(2007). Evidence-based psychological treatments for distress in family caregivers of older adults. Psychology and Aging, 22, 37–51.
(2005). Maintenance of effects of the home environmental skill-building program for family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60, 368–374.
(1990). Entspannung als Therapie [
Progressive relaxation ]. München: Pfeiffer.(2006). Selbstmanagement-Therapie. Ein Lehrbuch für die klinische Praxis [
Self-management – therapy. Textbook for clinical practice ]. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.(1968). Goal attainment scaling: A general method for evaluating comprehensive community mental health programs. Community Mental Health Journal, 4, 443–453.
(2010). Evaluation of a brief educational program for dementia carers: The AENEAS Study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25, 861–869.
(2010). Die Belastung pflegender Angehöriger bei Demenz: Entstehungsbedingungen und Interventionsmöglichkeiten [
Carer burden in dementia. Origins and intervention ]. Der Nervenarzt, 82, 336–342.(2002). Development and initial validation of an inventory to assess grief in caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The Gerontologist, 42, 751–765.
(2006). Improving caregiver well-being delays nursing home placement of patients with Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 67, 1592–1599.
D. (2010). The role of grief in dementia caregiving. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 25, 9–17.
(2006). Helping caregivers of persons with dementia: Which interventions work and how large are their effects? International Psychogeriatric, 18, 577–595.
(2001). Perceived support needs of family caregivers and implications for a telephone support service. The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 33(2), 43–61.
(2001). A systematic review of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for carers of people with dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 5, 107–119.
(2005). Seeking to understand telephone support for dementia caregivers. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 27, 701–721.
(2003). Introduction to the special section on Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health (REACH). Psychology and Aging, 18, 357–360.
(2005). Evidence-based caregiver interventions in geriatric psychiatry. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28, 1007–1038.
(2007). Systematic review of the effect of psychological interventions on family caregivers of people with dementia. Journal of Affective Disorders, 101(1–3), 75–89.
(2006). Dementia care: Mental health effects, intervention strategies, and clinical implications. The Lancet Neurology, 5, 961–973.
(2007). Systematic review of information and support interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. BMC Geriatrics, 7(18), doi:10.1186/1471–2318–7–18.
(2008). Telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention reduces burden in dementia caregivers. Dementia, 7, 503–520.
(2001). Gruppenarbeit bei pflegenden Angehörigen von Demenzkranken. Ein therapeutischer Leitfaden [
Group-work with dementia caregivers. Guidelines for therapists ]. Göttingen: Hogrefe.(2007). Evaluation of an intervention program for spouses of stroke patients. Behavior Research and Therapy, 40, 2508–2517.
(2011). Tele.TAnDem – Telefonische Therapie für Angehörige von Demenzkranken. Eine Kurzzeitintervention zur Ressourcenförderung bei häuslich betreuenden Angehörigen [
Tele.TAnDem – Telephone Therapy for Dementia Caregivers. Short-term intervention for supporting resources in home caring relatives ]. Abschlussbericht. Förderung: BMG “Leuchtturmprojekt Demenz,” FKZ: LTDEMENZ, 44–092.
