Implementation of a Cognitive Stimulation Program for People with Alzheimer Disease: A Pilot Study in a Chilean Elderly Sample

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a psychosocial intervention for people with dementia that has been successful in Anglo-Saxon population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of CST in a sample of Chilean elders. The participants were 22 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dis...

Descripción completa

Autor Principal: Miranda Castillo, Claudia; Escuela de Psicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso
Otros Autores: Mascayano Tapia, Franco, Roa Herrera, Andrea, Maray Ghigliotto, Franco, Serraino Guerra, Luciana
Formato: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Idioma: spa
Publicado: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea: http://revistas.javeriana.edu.co/index.php/revPsycho/article/view/1609
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
Sumario: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a psychosocial intervention for people with dementia that has been successful in Anglo-Saxon population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of CST in a sample of Chilean elders. The participants were 22 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in mild to moderate stage, who were living in a residential care home in the town of Quillota, Chile. In order to determine the effectiveness of the program, an experimental mixed design 2x2 (repeated measures) was employed. The sample was randomly assigned into two groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Three dimensions were assessed: cognition, quality of life and functional ability. After the intervention, the IG presented a significant improvement in their cognitive function and quality life. In contrast, the CG did not show positive changes in any dimension. In fact, CG showed a worsening in its cognitive deterioration. Both groups did not showed significant changes in functional ability. Even though intergroup comparisons did not yield significant differences, the IG showed an important improvement in cognitive function, compared with an increase in the progression of cognitive impairment in the CG. It is recommended that future research will contrast these results using a larger sample of people with AD.