People with early-stage dementia and their caregivers F00 F01 F03
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: This study is designed as a single-arm, non-randomized, prospective intervention study with a pre-post follow-up design. There is no randomization and no assignment to intervention or control
Sponsors
Universität Konstanz
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: • Sufficient knowledge of German to understand information about the study and actively participate in group sessions and surveys • A diagnosis of dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's dementia or other diagnosed forms) • Ability to work in a group (the ability to integrate socially and actively participate in a structured group setting)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: • Acute mental disorder that make participation unreasonable or impractical. These include in particular: o Severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, o Acute suicidal tendencies or aggression towards others, o acute delusional disorders, • a Mini-Mental Status Test (MMST) score below 23 points, as in this case advanced cognitive impairment can be assumed, which significantly limits active and informed participation in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Reduction in physiological stress markers (salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase) from the beginning to the end of the group therapy session (short-term effect) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| - Reduction in physiological stress markers (salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase) over the course of the intervention, from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up - Reduction in chronic stress levels (hair cortisol concentration) - Synchronization of biopsychological stress markers (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate variability) - Improvement in relationship quality - Maintenance or improvement of quality of life - Group psychotherapeutic mechanisms of change mediate the stress-reducing effect of the intervention | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactAnna Jäger
Universität Konstanz
Outcome results
None listed