P Otero1, F Smit2, P Cuijpers2, A Torres3, V Blanco1, F L Vázquez4. 1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology,Unit of Depressive Disorders, University of Santiago de Compostela,Santiago de Compostela,Spain. 2. Department of Clinical Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University,Amsterdam,The Netherlands. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health,University of Santiago de Compostela,Santiago de Compostela,Spain. 4. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology,University of Santiago de Compostela,Santiago de Compostela,Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although depression is a common problem among non-professional caregivers, only one trial has evaluated the efficacy of indicated prevention targeting this population and the long-term efficacy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in a sample of female caregivers. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 173 participants (mean age 53.9 years) who were allocated to the intervention (n = 89) or theusual-care control group (n = 84). Blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the incidence of major depression and the secondary outcomes were compliance with treatment, depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, a lower incidence of depression as evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV was found in the intervention group compared with the control group (10.1% v. 25.0%). The relative risk was 0.40 and statistically significant [χ2 = 6.68, degrees of freedom = 1, p = 0.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.81], and the number needed to treat was 7 (95% CI 4-27). There was a significant delay in the onset of depression in the intervention group (p = 0.008). The good complier caregivers had a lower incidence of depression. The intervention effect on depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that a brief problem-solving intervention can prevent the onset of depression among non-professional caregivers over the longer term.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Although depression is a common problem among non-professional caregivers, only one trial has evaluated the efficacy of indicated prevention targeting this population and the long-term efficacy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in a sample of female caregivers. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 173 participants (mean age 53.9 years) who were allocated to the intervention (n = 89) or the usual-care control group (n = 84). Blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the incidence of major depression and the secondary outcomes were compliance with treatment, depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, a lower incidence of depression as evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV was found in the intervention group compared with the control group (10.1% v. 25.0%). The relative risk was 0.40 and statistically significant [χ2 = 6.68, degrees of freedom = 1, p = 0.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.81], and the number needed to treat was 7 (95% CI 4-27). There was a significant delay in the onset of depression in the intervention group (p = 0.008). The good complier caregivers had a lower incidence of depression. The intervention effect on depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that a brief problem-solving intervention can prevent the onset of depression among non-professional caregivers over the longer term.
Authors: Lara Lopez; Fernando L Vázquez; Ángela J Torres; Patricia Otero; Vanessa Blanco; Olga Díaz; Mario Páramo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: María Jesús Rojas-Ocaña; Miriam Araujo-Hernández; Rocío Romero-Castillo; E Begoña García Navarro Journal: Prim Health Care Res Dev Date: 2021-06-07 Impact factor: 1.458
Authors: Fernando L Vázquez; Patricia Otero; Miguel A Simón; Ana M Bueno; Vanessa Blanco Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-01-14 Impact factor: 3.390