Christina Wunner1, Roland Rupprecht2, Katrin Singler3,4, Wolfgang Söllner5, Christiane Waller5, Markus Gosch3, Anne Schubert5. 1. Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland. christina.wunner@klinikum-nuernberg.de. 2. Institut für Psychogerontologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Nürnberg, Deutschland. 3. Klinik für Innere Medizin 2, Schwerpunkt Geriatrie, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Nürnberg, Deutschland. 4. Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Nürnberg, Deutschland. 5. Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate a specific treatment concept for patients suffering from dementia in a geriatric day clinic with respect to improvement of dementia-related behavioral abnormalities and effects on distress of the caring relatives. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Designed as a naturalistic study with a sample of 34 dementia patients (average age 83 years, 62% female, 82% mild dementia, 18% moderate dementia) surveyed at three time points, the dementia-related behavioral symptoms and the relatives' distress were measured using the neuropsychiatric inventory. A waiting time before treatment was implemented as a control condition. RESULTS: Compared with waiting time, a significant improvement of dementia-related behavioral abnormalities was found after treatment, especially in patients suffering from moderate dementia. The distress of caring relatives was clearly reduced. CONCLUSION: The interprofessional treatment of patients with dementia using a specific program in a geriatric day clinic leads to a clear improvement in behavioral symptoms and positively influences the distress of caring relatives.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate a specific treatment concept for patients suffering from dementia in a geriatric day clinic with respect to improvement of dementia-related behavioral abnormalities and effects on distress of the caring relatives. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Designed as a naturalistic study with a sample of 34 dementia patients (average age 83 years, 62% female, 82% mild dementia, 18% moderate dementia) surveyed at three time points, the dementia-related behavioral symptoms and the relatives' distress were measured using the neuropsychiatric inventory. A waiting time before treatment was implemented as a control condition. RESULTS: Compared with waiting time, a significant improvement of dementia-related behavioral abnormalities was found after treatment, especially in patients suffering from moderate dementia. The distress of caring relatives was clearly reduced. CONCLUSION: The interprofessional treatment of patients with dementia using a specific program in a geriatric day clinic leads to a clear improvement in behavioral symptoms and positively influences the distress of caring relatives.
Entities:
Keywords:
Caring relatives; Distress; Geriatric day hospital; Problem behavior; Treatment outcome