Effects of Mindfulness Based Interventions in Adults and Older Adults Caregivers of Patients with Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on quality of life and emotion regulation (depression) in caregivers of early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients.
Results Summary
Caregivers treated with MBSR showed significant reductions in depression and burden, along with improvements in multiple dimensions of quality of life, while the untreated control group experienced worsening in physical functioning and pain.
Population
Caregivers (age ≥60 years) of early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | Depression-BDI | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p > 0.001 | decreased | #1 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | Burden CBI-Total | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | 0.001 | decreased | #2 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | CBI-Time dependent burden | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.001 | decreased | #3 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | CBI-Developmental burden | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.001 | decreased | #4 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | CBI-Physical burden | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.001 | decreased | #5 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | pain | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p = 0.002 | decreased | #6 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | CBI-Social burden | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p = 0.004 | increased | #7 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-Health Role Limitation | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.000 | increased | #8 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-Role-Limitation-Emotional-Problem | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.000 | increased | #9 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-Energy-fatigue | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.000 | increased | #10 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-Emotional Well-Being | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p < 0.001 | increased | #11 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-Social Well Being | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p = 0.010 | increased | #12 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | QoL-General Health | caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage | p = 0.004 | increased | #13 |
- | decrease | Physical functioning | control group of untreated CG | p = 0.036 | worsening | #14 |
- | decrease | pain | control group of untreated CG | p = 0.047 | worsening | #15 |
MBI | decrease | burden | AD-CGs | - | reduced | #16 |
MBI | decrease | depression | AD-CGs | - | reduced | #17 |
MBI | increase | all the dimensions of quality of life | AD-CGs | - | improvement | #18 |
BACKGROUND: Many studies have highlighted the effect of training with mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on the psycho-physical rebalancing of patients suffering from various pathologies, and their families. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effect of a training with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on quality of life and emotion regulation (depression) was verified in caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage (AD-P). METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 22 CGs (age≥60 years) were treated with MBIs, in particular MBSR, and 22 CGs had no treatment. Tests (T0-T1 six months) included: SF 36-Quality of Life (QoL); Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI); FACIT-Spiritual-Well-Being; Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Everyday Cognition scales; and Mini-Mental State Examination (for AD-P). RESULTS: Significant differences emerged between T0 and T1 for CGs with MBSR in the following dimensions: Depression-BDI (p > 0.001), Burden CBI-Total (0.001), CBI-Time dependent burden (p < 0.001), CBI-Developmental burden (p < 0.001), CBI-Physical burden (p < 0.001); and pain (p = 0.002) all decreased; while CBI-Social burden (p = 0.004), QoL-Health Role Limitation (p < 0.000), QoL-Role-Limitation-Emotional-Problem (p < 0.000), QoL-Energy-fatigue (p < 0.000), QoL-Emotional Well-Being (p < 0.001), QoL-Social Well Being (p = 0.010), and QoL-General Health (p = 0.004) increased. The control group of untreated CG showed a significant worsening in the dimensions of Physical functioning (p = 0.036) and pain (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: AD-CGs treated with MBI reduced their burden and depression and experienced an improvement in all the dimensions of quality of life.