Contribution of relaxation to a psychoeducational intervention program for family carers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease
Year of Publication 2013
Abstract
Unlabelled: Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease are at high risk of psychological and physical morbidity due to the daily caring experience.; Objectives: to evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational program involving relaxation techniques on caregivers’ burden and mental health status.; Methods: in this prospective study, 50 family caregivers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: standard (CG: Control group; 12 × 90 minutes weekly sessions: psychoeducational group intervention) and experimental intervention (RG: Relaxation group; 12 × 150 minutes sessions: standard intervention + relaxation techniques). Caregivers’ burden and mental health status were assessed using the Zarit burden interview (global score and three dimensions from the factor analysis of the French version: social consequences, psychological burden and feelings of guilt) and the General health questionnaire-28 at baseline, after 3 (M3) and 6-months follow-up. Inter-individual statistics and intra-individual changes were calculated.; Results: social consequences and psychological burden decreased in RG. The between-group analysis showed that social consequences scores at M3 improved more in RG than in CG. No change in mental health was observed. For burden and anxiety/insomnia, intra-individual analyses showed that RG intervention was beneficial for more carers than CG intervention.; Discussion: this study suggests that integrating relaxation techniques into psychoeducational interventions is beneficial for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease.;