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

Author(s)

Dorli Kamkhagi ^[1] ; Ana Carolina Oliveira Costa ^[2] ; Sandra Kusminsky ^[3] ; Deborah Supino ^[4] ; Breno Satler Diniz ^[5] ; Wagner Farid Gattaz ^[6] ; Orestes Vicente Forlenza ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

^[2] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

^[3] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

^[4] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

^[5] Federal University of Minas Gerais. Faculty of Medicine. Department of Mental Health - Brasil

^[6] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

^[7] University of Sao Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. Department and Institute of Psychiatry - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY; v. 42, n. 6, p. 157-160, 2015-12-00.

Abstract

Abstract Background Family members providing continuous care to demented patients suffer from severe burden that impairs quality of life and often evolves to depression. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effect of psychodynamic group psychotherapy (PGT) compared to body awareness therapy (BAT) on caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among family caregivers to Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Methods Thirty-seven healthy family caregivers were randomly allocated to receive PGT (n = 20) or BAT (n = 17). Interventions were administered in the format of 14 weekly group sessions. Outcome measures were: modification of scores on Zarit Burden Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and WHO-QoL Scale. Results Participants in the PGT group displayed significant reduction on burden (p = 0.01) and depression scores (p = 0.005), and improved quality of life (p = 0.002), whereas those in the BAT group showed improvements in burden of care (p = 0.001) and quality of life (p = 0.01), but not on depressive symptoms (p = 0.13). Discussion Psychodynamic psychotherapy was associated with amelioration of depressive symptoms, but overall benefits on burden of care and quality of life were similar irrespective of the type of intervention, i.e., psychologically-oriented or not. We hypothesize that these interventions can be complementary to improve depression and burden of care among family caregivers of AD patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/52825-8 - Neurobiology of Alzheimer's disease: risk markers, prognosis and therapeutic response
• Grantee: Wagner Farid Gattaz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants