Effects of Caregiver Dementia Training in Caregiver–Patient Dyads on Psychotropic Drug Prescription: A Randomized Controlled Study

Introduction

About 70% of people with dementia (PWD) live in the community.¹ Dutch demographic and prevalence data indicate that about 35% of these share a household with their primary caregiver.^2,3 Unfortunately, most PWD experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia at some point in the course of their illness.⁴ Clinical guidelines recommend nonpharmacological approaches as the first-line approach to treating these symptoms,⁵ advocating that psychotropic drugs should be prescribed with restraint due to their limited effectiveness and the frequency of side effects. However, in clinical practice, psychotropic drugs are frequently prescribed to community-dwelling PWD, with percentages varying from 29% to 50% depending on the stage of dementia.^6–8

Caregivers of PWD also experience high and persistent burden that contributes to a decline in their own mental health. Therefore, psychotropic drug use is higher among these than in the general population.^9,10 Reported utilization rates vary by drug type, with 4–13% using antidepressants, 13–22% using anxiolytics, and 3–8% using sedatives and hypnotics.^9–11 Evidence suggests that caregiver characteristics predict psychotropic drug use, and not the severity of disease in the PWD or the perception of how well he or she is supported.⁹ Interventions aimed at supporting both the PWD and the caregiver may therefore reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in PWD and promote good mental health in their caregivers, which in turn, may reduce psychotropic drug use.

We have previously published our findings on the effect of our “More at Home with Dementia” multicomponent dementia training for the caregivers of PWD.¹² Analyses indicated that participating caregivers experienced fewer role limitations due to physical and emotional function, that they had better acceptance and coping, and experienced less stress.¹² However, there was no effect on the primary outcome, care-related quality of life. Positive outcomes identified by qualitative analysis included better acceptance and coping and improved knowledge of dementia an available community services and facilities. It may be expected that these outcomes have led to different behaviors including better coping and consequently had influence on psychotropic drug use of the caregiver and the PwD as well. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze whether psychotropic drug use in PWD or caregivers was decreased by the multicomponent dementia training intervention.

Methods

Design and Participants

Participants were recruited to the intervention, which we called “More at Home with Dementia”, either by referral or by self-referral. The randomized controlled trial included 142 dyads of cohabiting caregivers and PWD that we randomized to either intervention (training program) or control groups (care as usual). Randomization was performed by the research assistant who was blind to the pre-fixed treatment allocations. Included were people with dementia with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia who live at home with their primary caregiver and both the caregiver and the PwD are able to understand Dutch. Excluded were PwD who showed aggressive or wandering behaviors. Data were obtained at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Details of the study have been published elsewhere,^12–14 a full description of the intervention and measurements, and the effects on primary and secondary outcomes. Before starting, the study was submitted for approval to the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands which concluded that no assessment was needed based on relevant Dutch law concerning scientific research in humans. Also, this study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participating caregivers and, if possible, from the PwD. The trial has been registered at the Dutch Trial Register; Trial ID, NTR5775.

Intervention and Control Groups

Participating caregivers received training in groups of two to six dyads for 5 days in a holiday accommodation setting. During the intervention, caregivers attended 14 psychoeducational group sessions on relevant emotional, relational, practical, financial, and social changes associated with living with PWD. These sessions were delivered by a psychologist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, an elderly care physician, a dietician and a social worker and included combating social isolation, planning for the future, re-rolling, medical aspects of dementia, fitness, therapeutic use of facilities, nutrition and using community services. Two sessions were scheduled on the first and last day and on the other days each morning and afternoon 2 sessions were given. Also, time was reserved to get to know each other and for leisure activities. The physicians of PWD and their partners were not involved. Participants in the control group received care as usual, which mostly comprised a dementia case manager, respite care in day care centers, other support groups, or a combination of these.

Measurements

Psychotropic drug use was coded according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification of the World Health Organization.¹⁵ Medications were categorized as follows: a) all psychotropics (excluding antidementia drugs), b) antipsychotics, c) antidepressants, and d) hypnotics and anxiolytics. The primary outcome of the effect analysis was care-related quality of life (CarerQol-7D). Other outcomes of interest were the self-rated burden, health, and mood symptoms of caregivers together with the neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and agitation in PWD. At meetings after 3- and 6-months caregivers were asked to expand on questions on their experiences during the intervention week, what knowledge they had used and what difference the intervention had made to their life.

Statistical Analysis

To analyze differences in psychotropic drug use between the intervention and control groups, we performed Pearson’s chi-square tests, assuming that observations were independent and normally distributed. In addition, we performed independent-samples t-tests to compute mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. As baseline characteristics did not point to selective attrition, we did not correct for baseline characteristics. Statistical analyses were undertaken using IBM SPSS, Version 24 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

Of the 142 participants that were randomized in the study groups, 12 of the 71 couples in the intervention group and 21 of the 71 couples in the control group dropped out before the study began. Another 4 participants in the control group did not provide information about their medication use, leaving 59 and 46 eligible for baseline analysis respectively. No differences in baseline characteristics of intervention and control group were observed regarding sex, age, educational level, born in the Netherlands or Reisberg Global Deterioration Scale score (PwD).^12,14 Table 1 shows the psychotropic drug use at baseline and at 3 months after the intervention for caregivers and PWD, including a comparison with the control group. No differences were observed in overall psychotropic drug use (number of participants using at least one psychotropic drug) or in antipsychotic, antidepressant, or hypnotic and anxiolytic drug use. Of the 19 caregivers who used psychotropic drugs at baseline, 8 (42%) dropped out of the study; by contrast, only 12 (14%) of the 88 caregivers who did not use psychotropic drugs dropped out.

Table 1 Number (and Percentage) of Participants Using Psychotropic Medication Use of the Intervention and Control Group at Baseline and After Three Months Including the Difference Between the Intervention and Control Value at Three Months in p-value, Chi Square Value, Mean Difference and 95% Confidence Interval

Among PWD at 3 months, 1% more in the intervention group and 3% fewer in the control group used at least one psychotropic drug, though the differences between groups were not significant at this time (p 0.61, MD 0.04 95% −0.12–0.21). Among the caregivers at 3 months, 7% fewer in the intervention group and 10% fewer in the control group used at least one psychotropic drug, though again differences between groups were not significant at this time (p 0.22 MD −0.08 95% CI −0.20–0.05). Finally, the change in psychotropic drug use from baseline to 3 months was not significant for either the PwD (MD −0.01, 95% CI −0.15–0.13) or the caregivers (MD 0.07, 95% CI −0.07 to 0.21).

Discussion

The More at Home with Dementia intervention did not reduce psychotropic drug use in either caregivers or PWD. Although the relatively small number of participants and relatively high dropout rates of caregivers using psychotropic drugs is a limitation of this study, we think our findings are of value and can help direct future research.

The lack of effect of the intervention on psychotropic drug use in PWD is consistent with the effects reported for other programs on psychosocial interventions aiming to lower psychotropic drug use. If psychosocial interventions are to lower psychotropic drug use in any meaningful way, there must be culture changes in nursing homes and greater involvement by prescribing physicians.¹⁶ Indeed, the lack of involvement by the physicians of participants in the present intervention could explain the lack of effect on drug use by PWD. Moreover, 15–24% of PWD in the present study used psychotropic drugs, which was much lower than the previously reported figures of 29% for the Netherlands¹⁷ and 50% for elsewhere.^6–8 This suggests that the prescription rate for psychotropic drug use was already limited, possibly due to selection bias; that is, caregivers who are more inclined to look for alternatives to psychotropic medication might be more motivated to participate in a caregiver training intervention.

Concerning the caregivers, our qualitative data indicated that they experienced less stress and more confidence regarding caregiving tasks after the intervention. However, this did not translate into less psychotropic use compared to the control group. In contrast to data in the literature, psychotropic drug use seemed to decrease in the 3-month period after baseline in both the intervention and the control groups. However, we observed higher dropout rates among caregivers who used psychotropic drugs at baseline compared with those who did not, perhaps indicating a higher burden. The decline in both groups could reflect bias due to selective dropout.

Conclusion

A multicomponent intervention aimed at caregivers of PWD did not reduce psychotropic drug use compared to that in a control group. In PWD, psychotropic drug use at baseline and 3 months was low compared with the prevalence reported in existing literature. Further research into the impact of multicomponent interventions aimed at caregivers of PWD should incorporate general practitioners who can then optimize psychotropic drug prescribing for spousal caregivers and PWD during follow-up.