Mindfulness training for psychological stress in family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the efficacy of mindfulness training in improving stress-related outcomes in family caregivers of people with dementia.
Results Summary
Mindfulness interventions significantly improved depression, perceived stress, and mental health-related quality of life at 8 weeks post-treatment, but showed no significant advantage in alleviating caregiver burden or anxiety.
Population
Family caregivers of people with dementia.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
8 weeks post-treatment
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness training | decrease | depression | family caregivers of people with dementia | standardized mean difference: -0.58, [95% CI: -0.79 to -0.37] | showed significant effects of improvement | #1 |
mindfulness training | decrease | perceived stress | family caregivers of people with dementia | standardized mean difference: -0.33, [-0.57 to -0.10] | showed significant effects of improvement | #2 |
mindfulness training | increase | mental health-related quality of life | family caregivers of people with dementia | standardized mean difference: 0.38 [0.14 to 0.63] | showed significant effects of improvement | #3 |
mindfulness training | no change | caregiver burden | family caregivers of people with dementia | no significant advantage | did not show a significant advantage | #4 |
mindfulness training | no change | anxiety | family caregivers of people with dementia | no significant advantage | did not show a significant advantage | #5 |
Caring for a relative with dementia is extremely challenging; conventional interventions may not be highly effective or easily available on some occasions. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of mindfulness training in improving stress-related outcomes in family caregivers of people with dementia using a meta-analytic review. We searched randomized controlled trials (RCT) through April 2017 from five electronic databases, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Seven RCTs were included in our review. Mindfulness interventions showed significant effects of improvement in depression (standardized mean difference: -0.58, [95% CI: -0.79 to -0.37]), perceived stress (-0.33, [-0.57 to -0.10]), and mental health-related quality of life (0.38 [0.14 to 0.63]) at 8 weeks post-treatment. Pooled evidence did not show a significant advantage of mindfulness training compared with control conditions in the alleviation of caregiver burden or anxiety. Future large-scale and rigorously designed trials are needed to confirm our findings. Clinicians may consider the mindfulness program as a promising alternative to conventional interventions.