© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Effectiveness of cognitive—behavioural family intervention in reducing the burden of care in carers of patients with Alzheimer's disease
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Central Manchester Healthcare Trust, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester
Department of Old Age Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Manchester University, Manchester
Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Manchester University, Manchester
University Department of Psychiatry, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester
Correspondence: Professor Alistair Burns, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 8LR, UK. Tel.:01612914355/3310/4831; fax: 01614455305; e-mail: A_Burns{at}fsl.with.man.ac.uk
Declaration of interest The study was funded through a fellowship from the Alzheimer's Disease Society.
Background The majority of patients with Alzheimer's disease live outside institutions and there is considerable serious psychological morbidity among their carers.
Aims To evaluate whether family intervention reduces the subjective burden of care in carers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and produces clinical benefits in the patients.
Method A prospective single-blind randomised controlled trial with three-month follow-up in which the experimental group received family intervention and was compared with two control groups.
Results There were significant reductions in distress and depression in the intervention group compared with control groups at post-treatment and follow-up. There were significant reductions in behavioural disturbance at post-treatment and an increase in activities at three months in patients in the intervention group. Based on an improvement on the General Health Questionnaire resulting in a carer converting from a case to a non-case, the number to treat was three immediately post-treatment and two at follow-up.
Conclusions Family intervention can have significant benefits in carers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and has a positive impact on patient behaviour.
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