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Benefit-finding intervention for Alzheimer caregivers: conceptual framework, implementation issues, and preliminary efficacy
Cheng ST, Lau RW, Mak EP, Ng NS, Lam LC.. The Gerontologist, 2014-03-31
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Purpose To describe an intervention promoting benefit-finding in Alzheimer caregivers, to discuss key issues in implementation and ways to resolve them, and to examine whether the intervention reduced burden and depression in a small randomized trial. Design and methods Twenty-five caregivers were randomized into benefit-finding and psychoeducation groups. Both groups had eight weekly sessions. Outcome measures including role overload, Zarit Burden Interview, and Hamilton depression scale were collected at baseline and after treatment. Results were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Additionally, the challenges of implementing such interventions, some of which related to cultural issues, were analyzed qualitatively. Results Controlling for pretest, the benefit-finding group had lower depression than the psychoeducation group at post-test, despite the fact that some caregivers found benefit-finding challenging. The two groups did not differ on overload and burden. However, within-group analysis suggested that both groups showed significant reductions in overload from pretest to post-test. In addition, we discussed participants' difficulties in grasping the technique of thought modification for benefit-finding, recording such exercises at home, and sharing their thoughts and experiences in groups. We described measures undertaken in the main trial to overcome these issues. Implications Cognitive approaches focusing on benefit-finding are feasible among Chinese caregivers, with preliminary evidence suggesting an effect on alleviating depression.
Key findings
- Results were analyzed using analysis of covariance.
- Results Controlling for pretest, the benefit-finding group had lower depression than the psychoeducation group at post-test, despite the fact that some caregivers found benefit-finding challenging.
- However, within-group analysis suggested that both groups showed significant reductions in overload from pretest to post-test.
Why it matters
In a small randomized trial of 25 Alzheimer caregivers, the benefit-finding group had lower depression than the psychoeducation group after treatment, while the groups did not differ on overload and burden. This is about supporting caregivers, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease in patients.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 59/100
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 (The Gerontologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Gerontologist: journal h-index 238 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 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 | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 74 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.3 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 16 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author L C W Lam: h-index 6 (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 24688081) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 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., Lau, R. W., Mak, E. P., Ng, N. S., & Lam, L. C. (2014). Benefit-finding intervention for Alzheimer caregivers: conceptual framework, implementation issues, and preliminary efficacy. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu018
Vancouver
Cheng ST, Lau RW, Mak EP, Ng NS, Lam LC. Benefit-finding intervention for Alzheimer caregivers: conceptual framework, implementation issues, and preliminary efficacy. The Gerontologist. 2014. doi:10.1093/geront/gnu018. PMID: 24688081.
BibTeX
@article{cheng2014-24688081,
author = {Cheng, S. T. and Lau, R. W. and Mak, E. P. and Ng, N. S. and Lam, L. C.},
title = {{Benefit-finding intervention for Alzheimer caregivers: conceptual framework, implementation issues, and preliminary efficacy}},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1093/geront/gnu018},
pmid = {24688081},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu018}
}
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