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Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial
Cheng ST, Mak EPM, Fung HH, Kwok T, Lee DTF, Lam LCW.. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 2017-03-13
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To examine the effects of using cognitive reappraisal to find positive gains on caregivers' depressive symptoms, burden, and psychological well-being. Method Ninety-six caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to receive a benefit-finding intervention or 1 of 2 treatment-as-usual conditions, namely, simplified psychoeducation (lectures only; SIM-PE) or standard psychoeducation (STD-PE). Each participant received 4 biweekly interventions of 3 hr each, over a 2-month period, at home. Results Results showed that benefit-finding participants reported lower depressive symptoms after treatment, when compared with either SIM-PE (d = -0.46) or STD-PE (d = -0.50) participants. They also reported less role overload when compared with STD-PE participants (d = -0.46). Self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts was a mediator for some of the treatment effects. Conclusion Finding positive gains is an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms among Alzheimer caregivers. (PsycINFO Database Record
Key findings
- Results Results showed that benefit-finding participants reported lower depressive symptoms after treatment, when compared with either SIM-PE (d = -0.46) or STD-PE (d = -0.50) participants.
- They also reported less role overload when compared with STD-PE participants (d = -0.46).
Why it matters
In this trial of 96 caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease, those who received a benefit-finding intervention reported lower depressive symptoms and less role overload compared with those who received psychoeducation. This intervention helps caregivers cope but does not treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer's disease itself.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of consulting and clinical psychology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology: journal h-index 411 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised 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 | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 177 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.1 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 49.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author LINDA C. W. LAM: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Chinese University of Hong Kong: institution h-index 1,100 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28287803) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Cheng, S. T., Mak, E. P. M., Fung, H. H., Kwok, T., Lee, D. T. F., & Lam, L. C. W. (2017). Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000176
Vancouver
Cheng ST, Mak EPM, Fung HH, Kwok T, Lee DTF, Lam LCW. Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology. 2017. doi:10.1037/ccp0000176. PMID: 28287803.
BibTeX
@article{cheng2017-28287803,
author = {Cheng, S. T. and Mak, E. P. M. and Fung, H. H. and Kwok, T. and Lee, D. T. F. and Lam, L. C. W.},
title = {{Benefit-finding and effect on caregiver depression: A double-blind randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {Journal of consulting and clinical psychology},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1037/ccp0000176},
pmid = {28287803},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000176}
}
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