Mechanisms of action of a psychological intervention for dementia caregivers: effects of behavioral activation and modification of dysfunctional thoughts

Objective Different studies show the negative effects on caregivers' health of maladaptive thoughts and the positive effects of engaging in pleasurable activities on distress. The aim of this study is to (a) test the efficacy of a cognitive‐behavioral intervention aimed at training caregivers t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2011-11, Vol.26 (11), p.1119-1127
Main Authors: Losada, Andrés, Márquez-González, María, Romero-Moreno, Rosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Analysis of Variance
behavioral activation
Biological and medical sciences
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive Therapy - methods
Dementia
Dementia - nursing
Depression - psychology
dysfunctional thoughts
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Geriatric psychiatry
Geriatric psychology
Geriatrics
Humans
intervention
Leisure Activities - psychology
Male
mechanisms of action
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Psychoanalysis
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychotherapy, Group
Regression Analysis
Thinking
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Summary:Objective Different studies show the negative effects on caregivers' health of maladaptive thoughts and the positive effects of engaging in pleasurable activities on distress. The aim of this study is to (a) test the efficacy of a cognitive‐behavioral intervention aimed at training caregivers to flexibilize maladaptive thoughts regarding caregiving and increasing their leisure activities and to (b) analyse the mediator role in the effects of the intervention of caregivers' change in dysfunctional thoughts and behavioral activation. Methods A total of 170 caregivers were contacted and randomly distributed to the intervention condition or to the control group. Depression, behavioral activation, and dysfunctional thoughts were assessed at baseline and post‐intervention by ‘blinded’ interviewers. The intervention consisted in twelve group based sessions in which in addition to cognitive‐behavioral techniques, caregivers' were trained in basic principles for caring for a relative with dementia. Results Significant intervention by time effects were found for depression, dysfunctional thoughts and frequency of leisure activities. Only significant positive effects were found for the intervention group. The regression analysis for testing mediational effects of dysfunctional thoughts and leisure activities on the relationship between participating on the intervention and changes in depressive symptomatology show that mediation is established in both cases. Conclusions The results of our study contribute to the literature on interventions for dementia caregivers highlighting the positive mediator effect that modifying caregivers' dysfunctional thoughts and increasing their behavioral activation has on caregivers' depressive symptomatology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0885-6230
1099-1166
1099-1166
DOI:10.1002/gps.2648