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Problem-solving training to improve caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among dementia caregivers: personal and clinical factors of responders vs. non-responders
Shannon B. Juengst, Matthew Lee Smith, Kristin Wilmoth, Brittany Wright, Gang Han, Charlene B Supnet, Gladys E. Maestre. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025-10-10
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
We previously demonstrated that PST/DSJ improved caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD), regardless of the number of sessions or boosters received. However, these results did not examine factors characterizing those who responded (improvement in caregiver burden or depressive symptoms) or did not respond to the intervention. Objective To identify key personal and clinical factors associated with response to PST/DSJ. Results Ninety-one caregivers were included in responder analysis, with 55 (60.4%) demonstrating a clinically meaningful improvement in caregiver burden and/or depressive symptoms. No personal factors were associated with being a Responder (vs. Clinical factors associated with being a Responder were greater care recipient dementia severity (FAST score, p < 0.01), lower baseline caregiver life satisfaction (p = 0.05), higher baseline caregiver overload (p = 0.05), higher baseline caregiver burden (p = 0.01), and more baseline depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). Conclusion Most caregivers demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in caregiver burden and/or depressive symptoms after receiving PST/DSJ.
Key findings
- We previously demonstrated that PST/DSJ improved caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD), regardless of the number of sessions or boosters received.
- However, these results did not examine factors characterizing those who responded (improvement in caregiver burden or depressive symptoms) or did not respond to the intervention.
- Objective To identify key personal and clinical factors associated with response to PST/DSJ.
- Results Ninety-one caregivers were included in responder analysis, with 55 (60.4%) demonstrating a clinically meaningful improvement in caregiver burden and/or depressive symptoms.
- No personal factors were associated with being a Responder (vs.
Why it matters
In this responder analysis, 55 of 91 caregivers (60.4%) showed a clinically meaningful improvement in caregiver burden and/or depressive symptoms after problem-solving training, with response associated with greater care recipient dementia severity and higher baseline caregiver burden, overload, depressive symptoms, and lower life satisfaction. No personal factors were associated with being a responder, and the study addresses caregiver outcomes rather than treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Effect size60.4%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Public Health: journal h-index 174 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Gladys E. Maestre: h-index 41 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41142740) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682373
- PubMed: 41142740
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Juengst, S. B., Smith, M. L., Wilmoth, K., Wright, B., Han, G., Supnet, C. B., et al. (2025). Problem-solving training to improve caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among dementia caregivers: personal and clinical factors of responders vs. non-responders. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682373
Vancouver
Juengst SB, Smith ML, Wilmoth K, Wright B, Han G, Supnet CB, et al. Problem-solving training to improve caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among dementia caregivers: personal and clinical factors of responders vs. non-responders. Frontiers in Public Health. 2025. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682373. PMID: 41142740.
BibTeX
@article{juengst2025-41142740,
author = {Juengst, Shannon B. and Smith, Matthew Lee and Wilmoth, Kristin and Wright, Brittany and Han, Gang and Supnet, Charlene B and Maestre, Gladys E.},
title = {{Problem-solving training to improve caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among dementia caregivers: personal and clinical factors of responders vs. non-responders}},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682373},
pmid = {41142740},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682373}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.