Telephone-based Behavioral Activation Intervention for Dementia Family Caregivers: Outcomes and Mediation Effect of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Objectives The study examined the effects of a telephone-administered psycho-education with behavioral activation intervention (TBA) for family caregivers of person’s with Alzheimer’s dementia to reduce levels of depressive symptoms and burden and to enhance relationship satisfaction with the care-recipient Methods A double-blinded randomized trial compared TBA with telephone-based psycho-education with general monitoring (TGM). Ninety-six dementia caregivers were randomized. Both conditions received four weekly psycho-education sessions led by a social worker. TBA participants then received eight bi-weekly behavioral activation practice sessions delivered by paraprofessionals. TGM participants received eight bi-weekly monitoring sessions by paraprofessionals. Results As compared to TGM, TBA participants reported significantly larger reductions in depressive symptoms and burden and larger improvement in relationship satisfaction. Self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts was found to have a partial meditation effect between TBA and the reduction of depressive symptoms. Qualitative feedback suggested that TBA participants expressed unique gains in awareness and developing new ways of reappraising the caregiving situation. Conclusion TBA was an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and burden as well as to enhance relationship satisfaction in dementia caregivers. Practice implications The use of telephone and trained paraprofessionals can enhance the accessibility and sustainability of behavioral activation intervention for dementia family caregivers.