Abstract

Background

Anxiety is common and problematic in dementia, yet there is a lack of effective treatments.

Aims

To develop a cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) manual for anxiety in dementia and determine its feasibility through a randomised controlled trial.

Method

A ten-session CBT manual was developed. Participants with dementia and anxiety (and their carers) were randomly allocated to CBT plus treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 25) or TAU (n = 25). Outcome and cost measures were administered at baseline, 15 weeks and 6 months.

Results

At 15 weeks, there was an adjusted difference in anxiety (using the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale) of (–3.10, 95% CI –6.55 to 0.34) for CBT compared with TAU, which just fell short of statistical significance. There were significant improvements in depression at 15 weeks after adjustment (–5.37, 95% CI –9.50 to –1.25). Improvements remained significant at 6 months. CBT was cost neutral.

Conclusions

CBT was feasible (in terms of recruitment, acceptability and attrition) and effective. A fully powered RCT is now required.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an author-produced electronic version of an article published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://bjp.rcpsych.org
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Nursing

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