Mental illnesses are common in individuals with dementia.
A new study has shown that talk therapy can be helpful in improving the mental health of individuals with dementia. The results of the study could be helpful to long-term care leaders looking to support the care of these patients.
Depression and anxiety are common mental illnesses that individuals with dementia may experience. The study, led by researchers from University College London, looked at whether talk therapy helped relieve symptoms of these illnesses. The team examined data from over two million people with clinical anxiety or depression and completed a course of talk therapy treatment through England's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service.
To evaluate outcomes for individuals with dementia, researchers looked at 1,549 participants who had a dementia diagnosis prior to beginning the IAPT treatment, comparing it to a control group of 1,329 participants with the same age, gender, and severity of mental illness.
"Anxiety and depression are very common in people with dementia," Georgia Bell, PhD candidate and the study's lead author, said in a statement. "They are extremely debilitating and associated with worse outcomes for both the person with dementia and their [caregivers]."
"Our findings suggest that while people with dementia are less likely to improve or recover than those without dementia, psychological therapies offered in primary care mental health services can be beneficial for them," she said.
Of the participants with dementia, 63% saw a reduction in symptoms after IAPT, and approximately 40% recovered completely from their symptoms. In comparison, 70% of participants in the control group saw a reduction in their symptoms and 47% recovered completely.
In an October 2022 article by University College London, it states that "previously, there was limited evidence that talking therapies were adequately effective for people with dementia."
Dr. Richard Oakley, associate director of research of the Alzheimer's Society, said it's vital that mental health support be consistent and accessible for individuals after being diagnosed. The Alzheimer's Society and Wellcome funded the study.
"This Alzheimer's Society-funded research is the first study looking at the effectiveness of therapy for people living with dementia in a real-world setting," Oakley said. "It showed that people living with dementia showed a significant improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression when treated with therapy, even though their response wasn't as strong as that shown in the general population."
He added, "Though this study didn't compare the types of therapy, types of dementia, or if there were adaptations made for people living with the disease, it still highlights the urgent need to improve real-world therapy for those living with dementia—with adaptations to improve its effectiveness and accessibility."
“Anxiety and depression are very common in people with dementia. They are extremely debilitating and associated with worse outcomes for both the person with dementia and their [caregivers].”
- Georgia Bell, PhD candidate, University College London, lead author of study
Jasmyne Ray is the revenue cycle editor at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
This is the largest study to examine the effectiveness of psychological therapies on people with dementia.
Results of the study found that 63% of participants with dementia had fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety after IAPT, with 40% recovering completely from these symptoms.
The study highlights the need for mental health support to be accessible and consistent for people living with dementia after they're diagnosed.