Cognitive rehabilitation multi-family group intervention for individuals with mild cognitive impairment and their care-partners

J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2014 Oct;20(9):897-908. doi: 10.1017/S1355617714000782. Epub 2014 Sep 15.

Abstract

There is increasing need for early, pro-active programs that can delay dementia diagnosis and enhance well-being of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their care-partners (i.e., care-dyads). This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a combined cognitive rehabilitation and multi-family group treatment (CR-MFG) that was designed to facilitate adoption of newly learned cognitive strategies into the care-dyads everyday lives. Analyzed data included 23 care-dyads who participated in CR-MFG treatment and 23 care-dyads in standard care (SC). The 3-month intervention consisted of individual joining sessions, an educational workshop, and 20/twice weekly multifamily memory strategy training and problem-solving sessions. Everyday functioning, memory, and psychological functioning (i.e., quality-of-life, depression, coping) were assessed. The CR-MFG intervention was associated with significant post-test group differences and improved post-test performances by the MCI participants on performance-based measures of everyday functioning and neuropsychological tests of memory. There was also some suggestion that CR-MFG care-partners perceived positive change in the everyday functioning of the MCI participants. In contrast, no post-test group differences were found for either care-dyad member on the self-report psychological measures; care-partners in the treatment group did self-report improved coping behaviors at post-test. These 3-month results are preliminary but suggestive that CR-MFG may produce modest, practical everyday functional benefits for persons with MCI.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / rehabilitation*
  • Family Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Quality of Life
  • Treatment Outcome