The effect of psychosocial support intervention on depression in patients with dementia and their family caregivers: an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial

Background/aim: A three-component tailored psychosocial 12-month assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial to reduce depression in people with dementia (PWD) and carers was conducted.

Methods: A total of 230 home-dwelling dyads of PWD and their carers were randomized to usual care or intervention consisting of three components over 12 months. Primary outcomes were the difference between the baseline and 12-month score on the Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia (CSDD) in the PWD and on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in the carers.

Results: The intent-to-treat difference between the baseline and 12-month change score was not significant between the intervention and control groups for the CSDD (p = 0.95) or GDS (p = 0.82).

Conclusions: The trial did not show a significant difference between usual care and the intervention on depressive symptoms in PWD or their family caregivers. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.