Psychological Support for Caregivers of Individuals with Neurocognitive Disorders: Efficacy of Individual and Group Interventions

Author Information

Margherita Vincenzi, University of Padua, Italy
Giacomo Dal Gesso, Opera della Provvidenza S. Antonio, Italy
Elisa Di Rosa, University of Padua, Italy

Abstract

Caregivers of individuals with neurocognitive disorders often experience high levels of psychological distress and burden, which can significantly affect their quality of life. It is therefore essential to design and evaluate effective support strategies aimed at reducing the negative impact of caregiving. A total of 102 caregivers (mean age = 64.7 years; 62 women) participated in the study. Seventy-five received psychological support interventions, either individual (IS; N = 41) or group-based (GS; N = 34), while 27 were assigned to a control group (CG) and received no treatment. All participants completed standardized measures assessing caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life at baseline (T0) and after six months (T1). Preliminary findings (N = 65) revealed a significant reduction in caregiver burden (p < .001) and stress (p < .05) in the GS group following the intervention. The IS group showed stable scores over time, while the CG reported increased stress (p < .05) and a significant decline in quality of life (p < .001). Overall, psychological interventions were more effective than no intervention, with group-based support showing greater impact in alleviating stress and burden. These early results highlight the potential benefits of psychological support interventions, especially group-based formats, in improving the well-being of caregivers of individuals with neurocognitive disorders.

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