Study protocol published: Psychological support for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment

(Image removed) Photo: Mikael Wallerstect

Background
Mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression are commonly experienced by people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, as well as their close ones. Despite this, access to psychological support is low.

Mixed-method systematic review
In the published study protocol, the researchers describe how they will conduct a mixed-method systematic review and what they will investigate. They will examine how effective psychological interventions are in improving the mental health and psychological well-being of people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and their close ones. They will also explore what factors might be associated with the acceptability and use of psychological interventions from the perspective of key stakeholders. Key stakeholders can for example be people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, their close ones, and healthcare professionals. Finally, the authors will examine how well these interventions are described and reported in the scientific literature.

Further development of psychological intervention
The mixed-methods systematic review will be used to inform further adaptation of a psychological intervention targeting depression and psychological well-being among people living with dementia in Sweden. For example, by identifying important factors associated with intervention acceptability, and intervention use.

PhD Student Frida Svedin is lead author of the paper and Assistant Senior Lecturer Joanne Woodford is the principal investigator for the project which was funded by the Swedish Research Council.

Read the paper ‘Effectiveness, acceptability, and completeness and quality of intervention reporting of psychological interventions for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review’. It is written by Frida Svedin, Oscar Blomberg, Anders Brantnell, Paul Farrand, Louise von Essen, Anna Cristina Åberg, and Joanne Woodford.