Feasibility of a pocket-PC based cognitive control intervention in dementia spousal caregivers
Judith A Callan, Greg J Siegle, Kaleab Abebe, Beverly Black, Lynn Martire, Richard Schulz, Charles Reynolds 3rd, Martica H Hall, Judith A Callan, Greg J Siegle, Kaleab Abebe, Beverly Black, Lynn Martire, Richard Schulz, Charles Reynolds 3rd, Martica H Hall
Abstract
Objectives: Spousal caregivers of patients with dementia are in need of interventions to bolster their quality of life. Computer-based, self-administered cognitive training is an innovative approach to target spousal caregiver distress and coping. We tested the feasibility of administering one such intervention with minimal clinician intervention.
Methods: Twenty-seven elderly adults (>64 years old), who each were the primary caregiver for a spouse with dementia, were recruited through the Memory Disorders Clinic of the Alzheimer Disease Research Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Spousal caregivers were instructed to use a handheld computer version of the Adaptive Paced Visual Serial Attention Task (APVSAT) at least three times per week for four weeks as part of a larger caregiver intervention trial (P01 AG020677). Feasibility was explored by examining the frequency of APVSAT usage.
Results: Results suggest that self-directed cognitive training is feasible for spousal caregivers of dementia patients. The mean usage of the APVSAT was 42 (SD = 28.58). Performance increased from the beginning to the end of the trial, and usage was not affected by stress, worry, or poor sleep quality.
Conclusion: Findings suggest the potential utility of cognitive training via handheld computer for spousal caregivers of dementia patients to improve problem solving, coping and adaptation, planning, and persevering with goal-directed tasks.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00178568.
Keywords: cognitive control training; dementia spousal caregivers; handheld computer intervention; neurobehavioral intervention.
Figures
![Figure 1. Handheld APVSAT](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4766049/bin/nihms677317f1.jpg)
![Figure 2. Distribution of APVSAT Use](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4766049/bin/nihms677317f2.jpg)
Figure 3
Figures 3a and 3b. Association…
Figure 3
Figures 3a and 3b. Association between Use and Stress/Worry Illustrates the relationship between…
Figure 4. Change in Mean Interstimulus Interval…
Figure 4. Change in Mean Interstimulus Interval among the 28 Day Adherence Group
The mean…
![Figure 3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4766049/bin/nihms677317f3.jpg)
![Figure 4. Change in Mean Interstimulus Interval…](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4766049/bin/nihms677317f4.jpg)
Source: PubMed