A pilot randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for caregivers of family members with dementia

Abstract

Objectives The majority of care for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other age-related dementias is provided in the home by family members. To date there is no consistently effective intervention for reducing the significant stress burden of many family caregivers. The present pilot randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of an adapted, 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, relative to a near structurally equivalent, standard Social Support (SS) control condition for reducing caregiver stress and enhancing the care giver-recipient relationship. Method Thirty-eight family caregivers were randomized to MBSR or SS, with measures of diurnal salivary cortisol, and perceived stress, mental health, experiential avoidance, caregiver burden, and relationship quality collected pre- and post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Results MBSR participants reported significantly lower levels of perceived stress and mood disturbance at post-intervention relative to SS participants. At 3-month follow-up, participants in both treatments conditions reported improvements on several psychosocial outcomes. At follow-up there were no condition differences on these outcomes, nor did MBSR and SS participants differ in diurnal cortisol response change over the course of the study. Conclusion Both MBSR and SS showed stress reduction effects, and MBSR showed no sustained neuroendocrine and psychosocial advantages over SS. The lack of treatment condition differences could be attributable to active ingredients in both interventions, and to population-specific and design factors.

Benefits of psychodynamic group therapy on depression, burden and quality of life of family caregivers to Alzheimer’s disease patients

“…In a recent study 23 , presented the results from a randomized controlled trial with 38 family caregivers to demented patients addressing the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program delivered in eight weeks, as compared to standard social support. Participants in the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of perceived stress and mood abnormalities in addition to long-term improvements on several psychosocial outcomes.…”

Stress and Blood Pressure in Dementia Caregivers: The Moderator Role of Mindfulness

“…• Finally, as many studies support the efficacy of mindfulness-based therapies for improving caregivers' depressive and anxious symptoms (Brown, Coogle, & Wegelin, 2016;Epstein-Lubow, McBee, Darling, Armey, & Miller, 2011;Hou et al 2014), this kind of interventions may also be useful and effective in order to reduce cardiovascular risk of caregivers. Tables and Figures Table 1.…”

Research on the health of and interventions for family caregivers of people with dementia: a bibliometric analysis of research output during 1988–2018

“…The majority of persons with dementia living at home are cared for by their spouses, children, or friends, and family caregivers provide an estimated 80% of care [1,2]. Due to the aging of the world population, the number of persons with dementia is expected to reach 75.6 by 2030 and 135.5 million by 2050 [3]; however, support services for caregivers are not expected to increase at the same rate [4].…”