Evaluation of exercise on individuals with dementia and their carers: a randomised controlled trial

Background Almost all of the 820,000 people in the UK with dementia will experience Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). However, research has traditionally focused on treating cognitive symptoms, thus neglecting core clinical symptoms that often have a more profound impact on living with dementia. Recent evidence (Kales et al, 2007; Ballard et al, 2009) indicates that the popular approach to managing BPSD - prescription of anti-psychotic medication - can increase mortality and the risk of stroke in people with dementia as well as impair quality of life and accelerate cognitive decline. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the impact that non-pharmacological interventions have on BPSD; we believe physical exercise is a particularly promising approach. Methods/Design We will carry out a pragmatic, randomised, single-blind controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise (planned walking) on the behavioural and psychological symptoms of individuals with dementia. We aim to recruit 146 people with dementia and their carers to be randomized into two groups; one will be trained in a structured, tailored walking programme, while the other will continue with treatment as usual. The primary outcome (BPSD) will be assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) along with relevant secondary outcomes at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Discussion Designing this study has been challenging both ethically and methodologically. In particular to design an intervention that is simple, measurable, safe, non-invasive and enjoyable has been testing and has required a lot of thought. Throughout the design, we have attempted to balance methodological rigour with study feasibility. We will discuss the challenges that were faced and overcome in this paper

Dynamic process of family burden in dementia caregiving: a new field for psychotherapeutic interventions

Families caring for a patient with dementia are prone to significant physical, psychological and social stress. It is now well established that the caregiver burden does not only negatively affect the caregiver's physical and mental health, but is also associated with an increase in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia. Burden determinants include the quality of the relationship between the patient and caregiver; patient variables, such as the need to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia; and also caregiver variables, such as the satisfaction of caring, demographic characteristics and societal roles. The standardised assessment of interventions for caregivers in dementia care remains a difficult task. In recent years, family interventions that focus on the process of burden itself in relation to the caregiver's subjective experience of personal growth and enrichment have been proposed. This new approach is based on the identification of tasks and challenges faced by family members throughout the different stages of the disease. In this context, brief crisis interventions transform periods of disorganisation experienced by the family into opportunities for change, whereas rehabilitation interventions developed by professional caring networks offer a continuous assessment and advice to the family. This article provides a critical review of the consequences and determinants of caregiver burden in dementia care with special reference to the emerging notion of the caregiver's subjective experience in the context of family processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract