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Behavioral treatment of depression in dementia patients: a controlled clinical trial
Teri L, Logsdon RG, Uomoto J, McCurry SM.. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 1997-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
The current study is a controlled clinical investigation of two nonpharmacological treatments of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Two active behavioral treatments, one emphasizing patient pleasant events and one emphasizing caregiver problem solving, were compared to an equal-duration typical care condition and a wait list control. Seventy-two patient-caregiver dyads were randomly assigned to one of four conditions and assessed pre-, post-, and at 6-months follow-up. Patients in both behavioral treatment conditions showed significant improvement in depression symptoms and diagnosis as compared with the two other conditions. These gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Caregivers in each behavioral condition also showed significant improvement in their own depressive symptoms, while caregivers in the two other conditions did not. Results indicate that behavioral interventions for depression are important and effective strategies for treating demented patients and their caregivers.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
This is a trial. Two behavioral treatments, one focused on pleasant events for patients and one on caregiver problem solving, reduced depression symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease and in their caregivers. These gains were still present six months later, suggesting behavioral approaches can help treat depression in this population.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Teri, L., Logsdon, R. G., Uomoto, J., & McCurry, S. M. (1997). Behavioral treatment of depression in dementia patients: a controlled clinical trial. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/52b.4.p159
Vancouver
Teri L, Logsdon RG, Uomoto J, McCurry SM. Behavioral treatment of depression in dementia patients: a controlled clinical trial. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 1997. doi:10.1093/geronb/52b.4.p159. PMID: 9224439.
BibTeX
@article{teri1997-9224439,
author = {Teri, L. and Logsdon, R. G. and Uomoto, J. and McCurry, S. M.},
title = {{Behavioral treatment of depression in dementia patients: a controlled clinical trial}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1093/geronb/52b.4.p159},
pmid = {9224439},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/52b.4.p159}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Two active behavioral treatments, one emphasizing patient pleasant events and one emphasizing caregiver problem solving, were compared to an equal-duration typical care condition and a wait list control.
- Patients in both behavioral treatment conditions showed significant improvement in depression symptoms and diagnosis as compared with the two other conditions.
- Caregivers in each behavioral condition also showed significant improvement in their own depressive symptoms, while caregivers in the two other conditions did not.
- Results indicate that behavioral interventions for depression are important and effective strategies for treating demented patients and their caregivers.
Why it matters
Two behavioral treatments, one focused on pleasant events for patients and one on caregiver problem solving, reduced depression symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease and in their caregivers. These gains were still present six months later, suggesting behavioral approaches can help treat depression in this population.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomized controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 59 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 61 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series B: journal h-index 225 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomized controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomized / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomized (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 650 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.0 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 23 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author S. M. McCurry holds only 9 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9224439) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 59 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 59 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 61 out of 100. |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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