Efficacy of Early Stage Alzheimer's Support Groups

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00391794
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: October 24, 2006
• Last Update Posted: January 10, 2014
• Sponsor: University of Washington
• Collaborator: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Rebecca Logsdon, University of Washington

Study Description

Brief Summary:

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.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Memory Loss; Alzheimer's Disease; Dementia	Behavioral: Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group; Behavioral: Educational Seminar	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

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.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 154 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Efficacy of Early Stage Alzheimer's Support Groups
• Study Start Date: September 2006
• Actual Primary Completion Date: May 2011
• Actual Study Completion Date: May 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: ESSG; eight weekly 90-minute sessions	Behavioral: Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group; 8 week support group led by trained facilitators; Other Name: ESSG
Active Comparator: ES; one 4-hour educational program	Behavioral: Educational Seminar; 4 hour education session led by trained facilitators; Other Name: ES

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Quality of life [ Time Frame: baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Mood [ Time Frame: baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]
2. Social support [ Time Frame: baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]
3. Family Relationships [ Time Frame: baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child, Adult, Older Adult
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

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

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Washington

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, United States, 98115

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Washington

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Rebecca G Logsdon, PhD.; University of Washington

More Information

Publications:

Goldsilver PM, Gruneir MR. Early stage dementia group: an innovative model of support for individuals in the early stages of dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2001 Mar-Apr;16(2):109-14. doi: 10.1177/153331750101600206.

Quayhagen MP, Quayhagen M, Corbeil RR, Hendrix RC, Jackson JE, Snyder L, Bower D. Coping with dementia: evaluation of four nonpharmacologic interventions. Int Psychogeriatr. 2000 Jun;12(2):249-65. doi: 10.1017/s1041610200006360.

Snyder L, Quayhagen MP, Shepherd S, Bower D. Supportive seminar groups: an intervention for early stage dementia patients. Gerontologist. 1995 Oct;35(5):691-5. doi: 10.1093/geront/35.5.691.

Zarit SH, Femia EE, Watson J, Rice-Oeschger L, Kakos B. Memory Club: a group intervention for people with early-stage dementia and their care partners. Gerontologist. 2004 Apr;44(2):262-9. doi: 10.1093/geront/44.2.262.

• Responsible Party: Rebecca Logsdon, Research Professor, University of Washington
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00391794
• Other Study ID Numbers: 29920-J; 5R01AG023091 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); 06-1324-G01 ( Other Identifier: UW Human Subjects Division ); 5R01AG023091-02 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); 1A0131
• First Posted: October 24, 2006
• Last Update Posted: January 10, 2014
• Last Verified: January 2014

Keywords provided by Rebecca Logsdon, University of Washington:

Memory; Alzheimer's disease; Dementia; Support Group; Psychosocial

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Memory Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations