Examining the effects of CST in LD populations with dementia ver-1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A matched pairs, quasi-experimental examination of the effects of group-based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for individuals with a learning disability and dementia.

• IRAS ID

  282968

• Contact name

  Matthew McCourt

• Contact email

  v8123326@live.tees.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Teesside University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 3 months, 24 days

• Research summary

  This study aims to build on evidence that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) provides benefit to people with a learning disability and a diagnosis of, or under investigation for, dementia. CST is a manualised treatment programme for older adults who have a diagnosis of dementia (Spector, Thorgrimsen, Woods, & Orrell, 2006). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have reviewed the evidence base and recommended that group-based CST be offered to anyone with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (NICE, 2015). The evidence that NICE consulted showed that CST was associated with significant improvement in cognitive functioning, language skills, and quality of life (Aguirre, Woods, Spector, & Orrell, 2013; Spector et al., 2003; Spector, Orwell, & Woods, 2010; Woods, Aguirre, Spector, & Orrell, 2012). Until recently, no research had been undertaken to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of CST with individuals who have a learning disability and a diagnosis of, or were under investigation for, dementia.
  MacDonald and Summers (2019) conducted preliminary research to address the above gap in the evidence base. Using a case series design, individuals who were due to attend an NHS CST group were invited to participate in the research by completing measures of cognitive and behavioural functioning, quality of life, and mental health. Individuals and carers were also interviewed to get qualitative feedback. Individuals reported higher quality of life and increased cognitive functioning. The interviews also provided considerations for adapting CST to this population. This study will build on the evidence of MacDonald and Summers by recruiting more participants which will allow for a control-experimental group comparison. By selectively matching participants between control and experimental groups, this study will more closely examine the direct effect of CST on measures of cognitive and behavioural functioning, and quality of life.
  

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/NE/0182

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Aug 2020

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion