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Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers: What We Have Achieved, What We Have Learned
Cheng ST, Au A, Losada A, Thompson LW, Gallagher-Thompson D.. Current psychiatry reports, 2019-06-06
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
With the rising dementia population, more and more programs have been developed to help caregivers deal with the care-recipient as well as their own frustrations. Many interventions aim to enhance caregiver's ability to manage behavior problems and other deteriorations in functioning, with less direct emphasis placed on caring for the caregivers. We argue that techniques based on psychotherapy are strategically important in assistance provided to caregivers because of their utility for promoting emotional health. This article provides a focused review of such methods used in evidence-based intervention programs, along with the mechanisms of change associated with these methods. While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has a strong evidence base, there is also a growing trend to package CBT techniques into various psychoeducational programs. These programs, which we call psychoeducation with psychotherapeutic programs, have been consistently found to be effective in reducing caregiver distress and are suited for delivery in group format, even by paraprofessionals, to lower the cost of intervention. A recent trend is the effective use of technological aids (e.g., the internet) to deliver CBT and psychoeducation, reaching more caregivers. As for therapeutic mechanisms, the use of coping skills, reduced dysfunctional thoughts, and increased self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts has received support in studies. We conclude that psychotherapeutic techniques are increasingly being used effectively and efficiently to assist caregivers, aided by successful adaptation for educational or technologically advanced means of delivery. More research on therapeutic mechanisms is needed to understand how the techniques work and how they can be further refined.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Cheng, S. T., Au, A., Losada, A., Thompson, L. W., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2019). Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers: What We Have Achieved, What We Have Learned. Current psychiatry reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9
Vancouver
Cheng ST, Au A, Losada A, Thompson LW, Gallagher-Thompson D. Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers: What We Have Achieved, What We Have Learned. Current psychiatry reports. 2019. doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9. PMID: 31172302.
BibTeX
@article{cheng2019-31172302,
author = {Cheng, S. T. and Au, A. and Losada, A. and Thompson, L. W. and Gallagher-Thompson, D.},
title = {{Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers: What We Have Achieved, What We Have Learned}},
journal = {Current psychiatry reports},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9},
pmid = {31172302},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9}
}
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Key findings
- This article provides a focused review of such methods used in evidence-based intervention programs, along with the mechanisms of change associated with these methods.
- We conclude that psychotherapeutic techniques are increasingly being used effectively and efficiently to assist caregivers, aided by successful adaptation for educational or technologically advanced means of delivery.
Why it matters
This review reports that psychotherapeutic techniques, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoeducation with psychotherapeutic programs, are increasingly used to reduce caregiver distress and can be delivered in groups or through technology. It addresses caregiver support, not treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease itself.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, 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 (Current psychiatry reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Current Psychiatry Reports: journal h-index 163 (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 | 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 | 2019 — 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 | 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 281 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 31.2 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.8× 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 | 3 / 4 | Cited 121 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Dolores E. Gallagher-Thompson: h-index 87 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Stanford University: institution h-index 2,684 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31172302) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9
- PubMed: 31172302
- Original source →
- Free full text: Current Psychiatry Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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