Successful behavioral treatment for reported sleep problems in elderly caregivers of dementia patients: A controlled studyCitation McCurry, S., Logsdon, R., Vitiello, M. & Teri, L. (1998). Successful behavioral treatment for reported sleep problems in elderly caregivers of dementia patients: A controlled study.Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 53B(2), 122-129. Design Randomized, controlled study Participants 36 older caregivers of persons with dementia (age 50 and over). Outcome / Dependent Variables The following caregiver dependent variables were investigated:
caregiver sleep studied on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index,
caregiver depression measured on the CES-D depression scale and caregiver burden.
Procedure The intervention involved two phases and results were compared to those of a control group: 1st phase: 6-week group intervention including: sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep compression, and relaxation techniques. Education about community resources, stress management and techniques to reduce patient disruptive behaviors. Maintained sleep diary.
2nd phase: 4-week individual intervention.
Outcomes Caregivers in active treatment showed significant improvements in sleep at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up and no significant differences between groups were observed for caregiver mood, burden, or patient behavior problems.
Author McCurry, S., Logsdon, R., Vitiello, M. & Teri, L. | 
