Efficacy of Early Stage Alzheimer's Support Groups

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

154 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-09-30

Study Completion Date

2011-05-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of an Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group (ESSG) and Education Seminar (ES) on quality of life, mood, social support, distress about memory loss, and interpersonal relationships of memory loss participants and their caregivers.

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Detailed Description

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With recent advances in diagnostic procedures and treatment options, many individuals with AD are now diagnosed early in the disease. Early diagnosis has many benefits: treatment can be started sooner, legal and financial planning can be addressed while the individual is able to participate in decision-making, and support services can be mobilized earlier. However, early diagnosis may also have negative consequences for the diagnosed individual's quality of life. Thus, diagnosis creates an obligation to help individuals and their families learn more about AD and cope with the impact of the diagnosis. Many Alzheimer's Association chapters have begun providing early stage support groups that focus on enhancing quality of life for participants and their caregivers. Anecdotal reports suggest that these groups improve quality of life of participants, but some individuals may also experience decreases in quality of life associated with stress, depression, or family conflict as a result of discussing current and future losses in the group. Thus, there is a need to systematically evaluate the benefits of these groups.

This study will evaluate and compare the efficacy of a structured, 8-session Early Stage Support Group intervention (ESSG) and a half-day Education Seminar (ES). Participants with early stage memory loss and their caregivers will be randomly assigned to either ESSG or ES. Both are presented by the Alzheimer's Association Western \& Central Washington State Chapter.

Conditions

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Memory Loss Alzheimer's Disease Dementia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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ESSG

eight weekly 90-minute sessions

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

8 week support group led by trained facilitators

ES

one 4-hour educational program

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Educational Seminar

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

4 hour education session led by trained facilitators

Interventions

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Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group

8 week support group led by trained facilitators

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Educational Seminar

4 hour education session led by trained facilitators

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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ESSG ES

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Dementia diagnosis confirmed by primary care physician
* Early stage dementia, defined as a Mini Mental State Exam score of 18 or higher, and a Clinical Dementia Rating of 1 or less
* Care partner who will attend groups and complete study assessments
* Aware of memory loss (verbally acknowledges memory loss and/or expresses concern about memory)
* Comfortable in a group separate from family members
* No significant history of mental illness (no hospitalization or medication for psychotic disorder within the past 2 years)
* Consent to research participation (participant, care partner, legal representative)
* Remain in the community for the 6 month duration of the study

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes