Caregivers’ effects of augmented cognitive-behavioural therapy for post-stroke depressive symptoms in patients: secondary analyses to a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the concomitant effects of two patient-directed interventions for post-stroke depressive symptoms on caregivers’ well-being. Design: Secondary analyses of the results of a randomized controlled trial. Subjects: Fifty caregivers of stroke patients receiving outpatient rehabilitation. Interventions: Stroke patients and their caregivers were randomly allocated to either cognitive-behavioural therapy augmented with movement or occupational therapy (n = 23) or computerized cognitive training (n = 27) to alleviate depressive symptoms in patients. Main measures: Emotional burden (Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire), practical burden (Caregiver Strain Index), mental health (General Health Questionnaire) and emotional complaints (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results: Caregivers of patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy reported significantly higher mental health levels (mean difference (MD) = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.43–3.13, P = 0.01) and less worrying about patients’ well-being (MD = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.56–3.24, P < 0.01). In addition, there were positive time effects on the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire for Brain Injury, particularly the subscales Worrying, Supervision and Tension. Conclusion: The results suggest that augmented cognitive-behavioural therapy aimed at improving patients’ emotional, behavioural and social functioning positively affects some aspects of caregivers’ well-being.