Many psychosocial interventions have been directed at carers but few at patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease themselves. The preliminary results of a randomised controlled trial of psychotherapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease are presented. The type of psychotherapy used was adapted from psychodynamic interpersonal therapy and was carried out over 6 sessions. 40 patients with Alzheimer's disease were randomised to receive either the intervention or treatment as usual.
The results showed that there was benefit for the carers in the amount of support they sought and in the way they reacted to the sufferers’ problems. Standard assessments of the patients did not change over the study, or at 3 month follow up.
There was universal acknowledgement from both the carers and the patients that the intervention was very helpful. A great deal of autobiographical information was obtained which sheds light on what happens from a psychodynamic point of view with the onset of Alzheimer's disease even although the treatment was not directed primarily at the carers they obtained benefit from the intervention.
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