[Contribution of relaxation to a psychoeducational intervention program for family carers of persons with Alzheimer's disease].

UNLABELLED

Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease are at high risk of psychological and physical morbidity due to the daily caring experience.

OBJECTIVES

to evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational program involving relaxation techniques on caregivers' burden and mental health status.

METHODS

in this prospective study, 50 family caregivers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: standard (CG: Control group; 12 × 90 minutes weekly sessions: psychoeducational group intervention) and experimental intervention (RG: Relaxation group; 12 × 150 minutes sessions: standard intervention + relaxation techniques). Caregivers' burden and mental health status were assessed using the Zarit burden interview (global score and three dimensions from the factor analysis of the French version: social consequences, psychological burden and feelings of guilt) and the General health questionnaire-28 at baseline, after 3 (M3) and 6-months follow-up. Inter-individual statistics and intra-individual changes were calculated.

RESULTS

social consequences and psychological burden decreased in RG. The between-group analysis showed that social consequences scores at M3 improved more in RG than in CG. No change in mental health was observed. For burden and anxiety/insomnia, intra-individual analyses showed that RG intervention was beneficial for more carers than CG intervention.

DISCUSSION

this study suggests that integrating relaxation techniques into psychoeducational interventions is beneficial for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease.