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Structured intervention in family caregivers of the demented elderly and changes in their immune function
Author(s) -
Hosaka Takashi,
Sugiyama Yoko
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01094.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , mood , anger , intervention (counseling) , anxiety , hostility , dementia , profile of mood states , medicine , family caregivers , psychiatry , disease , clinical psychology , general health questionnaire , psychology , gerontology , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a group structured intervention on the mental and physical discomfort and immune function of 20 family caregivers. A structured intervention for caregivers consists of five sessions, each of which lasts 90 min. This was a modified version of the program that had been originally developed for cancer patients. All the family caregivers were female and ranged in age from 47 to 66 years (mean: 54.7 ± 4.4). The period of care at home ranged from 1 to 12 years (mean: 5.8 ± 2.7). Concerning the original diseases of the care‐receivers, 10 had vascular dementia and eight had Alzheimer's disease. Nine out of 20 caregivers had no care support, and seven utilized no public resources such as day‐care centers. Only five caregivers felt that they were healthy. Two psychometries, that is, Profile of Mood States (POMS) and General Health Questionnaire‐30 (GHQ‐30) were administered and blood samples were drawn before and after intervention. Comparison of results showed that there was significant improvement ( P < 0.05) in the scores of depression, anger–hostility, fatigue and confusion in the POMS, and physical symptoms, anxiety–mood disorder, suicidality–depression in the GHQ‐30. Also, there was significant ( P = 0.0325) augmentation of natural‐killer cell activity. The present study suggests that this kind of intervention was effective for relieving emotional and physical discomfort, and also for improving immune function.