Couples Coping With Alzheimer's Disease
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Alzheimer Disease, Healthy Studies, Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 21 - 90 |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | November 2004 |
| End Date: | November 2007 |
A Randomized Control Trial of an Intervention for Couples Coping With Alzheimer's Disease
The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of a new couples counseling intervention
for people recently diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease and their spouses. The study
hypothesis is that counseling the couple shortly after the diagnosis, and while the
functional impact of the illness is still relatively mild, will have a significant impact on
their ability to provide support for each other.
for people recently diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease and their spouses. The study
hypothesis is that counseling the couple shortly after the diagnosis, and while the
functional impact of the illness is still relatively mild, will have a significant impact on
their ability to provide support for each other.
The majority of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) live at home with their spouses. AD
erodes the ability of each member of the couple to support each other. Moreover, couples may
be unaccustomed to seeking or accepting emotional and practical support from family members
or formal resources. Even though AD can have a major negative impact on each member of the
couple and on their relationship, their needs have generally been addressed separately,
often without sufficient appreciation for the importance of their ongoing relationship.
Previous studies suggest that by improving support for both members of the couple, the
intervention will have a positive effect on mental health outcomes such as depression and
help keep the person with AD at home rather than in a long-term care facility.
One hundred couples will be randomly assigned either to an immediate treatment group or a
wait-list control group which will receive treatment four months after enrollment.
Participants will receive a formal baseline assessment, consisting of a structured set of
questionnaires to assess dyadic (couple) adjustment, social support, depression and anxiety
as well as goals for counseling. There will be two follow-up assessments, 2 and 4 months
after baseline using the same instruments. All participants will be able to call a counselor
for the duration of the study to obtain resource and referral information or in the event of
a crisis. The treatment will consist of 6 sessions of couples counseling within a 2-month
period. The focus will be on helping each member of the couple to express feelings, needs
and issues that have emerged between them as a result of the diagnosis.
erodes the ability of each member of the couple to support each other. Moreover, couples may
be unaccustomed to seeking or accepting emotional and practical support from family members
or formal resources. Even though AD can have a major negative impact on each member of the
couple and on their relationship, their needs have generally been addressed separately,
often without sufficient appreciation for the importance of their ongoing relationship.
Previous studies suggest that by improving support for both members of the couple, the
intervention will have a positive effect on mental health outcomes such as depression and
help keep the person with AD at home rather than in a long-term care facility.
One hundred couples will be randomly assigned either to an immediate treatment group or a
wait-list control group which will receive treatment four months after enrollment.
Participants will receive a formal baseline assessment, consisting of a structured set of
questionnaires to assess dyadic (couple) adjustment, social support, depression and anxiety
as well as goals for counseling. There will be two follow-up assessments, 2 and 4 months
after baseline using the same instruments. All participants will be able to call a counselor
for the duration of the study to obtain resource and referral information or in the event of
a crisis. The treatment will consist of 6 sessions of couples counseling within a 2-month
period. The focus will be on helping each member of the couple to express feelings, needs
and issues that have emerged between them as a result of the diagnosis.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Couples, in which one partner has been diagnosed with AD and is in the mild stage of
the disease
- Ages 21 to 90
Exclusion Criteria:
- Severe psychological or physical illness
- Unwillingness to participate in all aspects of the study
We found this trial at
1
site
New York, New York 10016
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