RELAXATION THERAPY FOR CAREGIVERS OF ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。婴儿潮一代的老龄化，寿命的延长，以及阿尔茨海默病和相关疾病(ADRD)水平的上升，将在不久的将来导致重大的照顾者危机。尽管家庭照顾者提供了非常有价值的服务，但他们这样做是以自己在情感和身体上的相当大的代价为代价的。为照顾者提供有效的压力管理计划，实际上是为了1)帮助他们减轻压力，2)改善他们的情绪和身体健康，以及3)使他们能够控制自己的生活。目的：本研究的总体目标是确定阿尔茨海默病患者照顾者的压力释放计划(SBP)的有效性。具体研究目标包括：1.前瞻性研究SBP对慢性神经系统疾病患者照顾者生活质量和免疫反应的影响。受试者将在基线、4周和8周SBP结束时以及2个月和4个月的后续会议上进行测试。2.使用生物反馈仪器测定受试者的放松反应以及他们对急性实验室应激源的反应。将测量肌肉张力、皮肤电反应、皮肤温度、血容量、脉搏和血压。受试者将在基线、完成SBP的4周和8周以及在2个月和4个月的后续会议上进行测试。根据生活质量测量、免疫参数和放松反应，比较SBP对成年儿童照料者和配偶照料者的有效性。拟议的为期8周的多模式SBP将侧重于压力管理、放松治疗以及与压力和放松相关的教育，管理挑战行为、抑郁、应对策略、积极思维和为发病抽出时间。设置将是一个教育支持小组。将使用重复测量设计来确定SBP与SSG的有效性。将使用心理社会工具以及包括生物仪器和免疫参数在内的最新科学技术来衡量结果，以衡量生物反应。SBP被提出作为一种方式来减少照顾者经历的压力水平，并教他们有效的应对策略。如果发现SBP在减轻压力、提高生活质量、促进放松和/或增强家庭照顾者的免疫能力方面比SSG更有效，这些发现可能对为经历巨大持续压力的人群提供经济高效的健康促进策略具有重要的临床意义。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Aging baby boomers, longer life spans, and rising levels of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) will result in a major caregiver crisis in the near future. Although family caregivers perform an incredibly valuable service, they do so at a considerable cost to themselves both emotionally and physically. Effective stress management programs for caregivers are virtually needed to 1) help them decrease their stress, 2) improve their emotional and physical health, and 3) empower them to gain control of their lives. OBJECTIVE: The overall goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a stress-busting program (SBP) for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Specific research objectives include: 1. Prospectively determine the effects of SBP on quality of life and immune response in caregivers of patients with chronic neurological diseases. Subjects will be tested at baseline, at completion of 4 and 8 weeks of SBP, and at 2 and 4 month follow-up sessions. 2. Determine subjects' relaxation response as well as their response to acute laboratory stressors using biofeedback instrumentation. Muscle tension, electrodermal response, skin temperature, blood volume pulse, and blood pressure will be measured. Subjects will be tested at baseline, at completion of 4 and 8 weeks of SBP and at 2 and 4 month follow-up sessions. Compare the effectiveness of SBP for adult children caregivers as compared to spousal caregivers based on quality of life measurements, immune parameters, and relaxation response. The proposed 8 - week multimodal SBP will focus on stress management, relaxation therapy, and education related to stress and relaxation, managing challenging behavior, depression, coping strategies, positive thinking, and taking time for onset. The setting will be an educational support group. A repeated measures design will be used to determine the effectiveness of SBP compared to SSG. Outcomes will be measured using psychosocial instruments as well as state-of-the science technology including bioinstrumentation and immune parameters to measure biological responses. The SBP is proposed as a way to decrease the level of stress experienced by caregivers and teach them effective coping strategies. If SBP is found to be more effective than SSG in decreasing stress, improving quality of life, promoting relaxation, and/or enhancing immunocompetence in family caregivers, these findings could have important clinical significance for providing a cost effective health promotion strategy for a group of people who experience tremendous ongoing stress.