Alzheimer's Caregiver Coping: Mental and Physical Health
Status: | Recruiting |
---|---|
Conditions: | Alzheimer Disease, Neurology |
Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
Healthy: | No |
Age Range: | 55 - Any |
Updated: | 11/3/2018 |
Start Date: | September 2014 |
End Date: | August 2019 |
Contact: | Brent T Mausbach, PhD |
Phone: | 858-822-7529 |
This study evaluates the effectiveness of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy vs Support and
Information for reducing risk for emotional and cardiovascular diseases in Alzheimer's
caregivers. Half of participants will receive BA and the other half will receive support and
information.
Information for reducing risk for emotional and cardiovascular diseases in Alzheimer's
caregivers. Half of participants will receive BA and the other half will receive support and
information.
The burden of caring for a loved-one with Alzheimer's disease is associated with adverse
psychological and general health consequences for the caregiver. These consequences including
risk for depression, cardiovascular disease, and earlier mortality. Because preliminary work
has demonstrated that an educational programs for caregivers reduce the negative affect
associated with caregiving, the investigators wish to determine whether improving mood can
also modify pathophysiological changes that have been linked to risk for developing
cardiovascular disease.
The investigators aims are to determine whether a 6-week Behavioral Activation (BA)
intervention, followed by 3 booster sessions over a period of 6 months, compared to an
Information-Support (IS) intervention will be associated with significant improvement in
indicators of vascular pathology, modification of psychobiological markers that have been
associated with cardiovascular parameters, and to determine whether improvements in
indicators of vascular parameters will be mediated by treatment related change in measures of
distress and markers of cardiovascular disease risk.
psychological and general health consequences for the caregiver. These consequences including
risk for depression, cardiovascular disease, and earlier mortality. Because preliminary work
has demonstrated that an educational programs for caregivers reduce the negative affect
associated with caregiving, the investigators wish to determine whether improving mood can
also modify pathophysiological changes that have been linked to risk for developing
cardiovascular disease.
The investigators aims are to determine whether a 6-week Behavioral Activation (BA)
intervention, followed by 3 booster sessions over a period of 6 months, compared to an
Information-Support (IS) intervention will be associated with significant improvement in
indicators of vascular pathology, modification of psychobiological markers that have been
associated with cardiovascular parameters, and to determine whether improvements in
indicators of vascular parameters will be mediated by treatment related change in measures of
distress and markers of cardiovascular disease risk.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 55 years or older.
- Providing in-home care to a spouse with dementia.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Taking Coumarin anticoagulants.
- Taking nitrates or niacin.
- Taking non-selective β-blockers.
- Glucocorticoid use in the 2 weeks prior to enrollment.
- Taking Aldomet or labetalol.
- Neither the caregiver nor Alzheimer's patient can be diagnosed with a terminal illness
with a life expectancy of less than 1 year
- Cognitive impairment
- Caregivers enrolled in another intervention study or receiving psychotherapy to
improve well-being or reduce distress
- Blood pressure >200/120 mm Hg
We found this trial at
1
site
9500 Gilman Dr
La Jolla, California 92093
La Jolla, California 92093
(858) 534-2230
Principal Investigator: Brent Mausbach, PhD
The University of California, San Diego UC San Diego is an academic powerhouse and economic...
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