Individual therapeutic-cognitive intervention of the psychological and behavioural symptoms of patients with dementia (PRESTA study)

Abstract Introduction The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) frequently appear associated with patients with dementia, aggravating their cognitive and behavioral status, which generates anguish for their main caregivers. Non-pharmacological therapies are a method to approach BPSD. Aim To analyze the effectiveness of a behavioral educational intervention and support to the family caregiver on the reduction of its overload, and if this reduction has a positive impact on BPSD of the patient with dementia. Methods A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was conducted with patients with dementia and their principal caregivers (PC). The PC were randomized to the intervention group (IG) or control (CG). The intervention consisted an individual cognitive-behavioral education performed by outpatient nursing, with periodic telephone contacts, during 3 months. CG received treatment as usual. Cognitive function was assessed using the cognitive scale Mini-Mental State Exploration (MMSE), Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI-10) and depressive Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). And caregiver reported burden through (Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory). The Quantitative and qualitative data of SPCD’s were collected at baseline and after the intervention. Results The mean total age of patients was 78.96 (± 6.64) years and 50% were men. And in PC (n = 28) of 58.64 (± 11.69) years, and 92.9% were women. The IG (n = 13) showed better score than the CG (n = 15) in the MMSE p Conclusions The non-pharmacological therapy of individual therapeutic-cognitive intervention directed to caregivers and carried out by nursing personnel expert in its management, has a favorable impact in the control and reduction of the SPCD of patients with dementia.