RELAXATION THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVERS

描述：（改编自研究者摘要）患者的护理人员 阿尔茨海默病和相关疾病（ADRD）的经验， 大量的压力，这可能会对他们的情绪和身体产生不利影响 well-being. 虽然情感和身体的关系 健康已经提出了很长一段时间，最近的发展， 方法学技术现在允许对这些进行实证检验 理论 放松疗法（RT）是一种护士可以使用的技术， 帮助减少压力的负面影响。 RT是一种行为 干预可以减轻压力，促进放松，提高 提高免疫力。 在这项研究中，RT对 放松反应，生活质量和免疫能力的照顾者， 将对ADRD患者进行检查。 ADRD患者的护理人员将 被邀请参加放松疗法干预。 以下 基线检测时，受试者将被随机分为2组。 第1组将 立即启动RT，组2将是等待列表控制组。 受试者将在基线以及RT 4周和8周结束时接受研究。 干预后2个月将进行随访检测。 第2组将 交叉到2个月后作为等待名单开始RT干预 对照组 RT的有效性将通过评估 放松反应、生活质量和免疫反应。 程度 将使用生物仪器测量肌肉来确定松弛 张力、皮肤电反应、皮肤温度、血容量脉搏，以及 呼吸的深度和频率。 生活质量将通过使用 评估身体、心理、社交和情绪健康的问卷。 将被调查的调节压力的个人资源包括感觉 凝聚力、应对资源和社会支持。 评估 免疫活性将集中于测量细胞介导的免疫应答， 特别是自然杀伤细胞的数量和功能。 重要护理 干预措施包括协助照顾者适应他们的情况， 以达到他们最高的健康水平。 如果RT延长a 放松状态，改善生活质量，并增强免疫能力， 这些照顾者，研究结果可能具有重要的临床意义 提供了一个具有成本效益的健康促进计划的模式， ADRD患者的护理人员。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from investigator's abstract) Caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders (ADRD) experience a great deal of stress which can adversely affect their emotional and physical well-being. Although the relationships between emotional and physical health have been proposed for a long time, recent developments in methodological techniques have now allowed empirical testing of these theories. Relaxation therapy (RT) is a technique which nurses can use to help decrease the negative effects of stress. RT is a behavioral intervention that can reduce stress, promote relaxation, increase quality of life, and enhance immunocompetence. In this study the effect of RT on the relaxation response, quality of life, and immunocompetence in caregivers of ADRD patients will be examined. Caregivers of ADRD patients will be solicited to participate in a relaxation therapy intervention. Following baseline testing, subjects will be randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 will immediately start RT and group 2 will be a wait-list control group. Subjects will be studied at baseline and at the end of 4 and 8 weeks of RT. Follow-up testing will be done 2 months post-intervention. Group 2 will crossover to begin the RT intervention after 2 months as the wait-list control group. The effectiveness of RT will be evaluated by assessing the relaxation response, quality of life, and immune response. The degree of relaxation will be determined using bioinstrumentation to measure muscle tension, electrodermal response, skin temperature, blood volume pulse, and depth and rate of breathing. Quality of life will be determined using questionnaires that assess physical mental social and emotional health. Personal resources mediating stress that will be investigated include sense of coherence, coping resources, and social support. Assessment of immunocompetence will focus on measuring the cell-mediated immune response, particularly natural killer cell number and function. Important nursing interventions include assisting caregivers to adapt to their situation and to achieve their highest possible level of wellness. If RT elicits a relaxed state, improves quality of life, and enhances immunocompetence in these caregivers, the findings could have important clinical significance for providing a model for a cost effective health promotion program for caregivers of ADRD patients.