IDEA Intervention for Depressive symptoms in EArly stage dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
IDEA: Intervention to prevent Depressive symptoms and promote well-being in EArly stage dementia: development and feasibility
IRAS ID
193152
Contact name
Vasiliki Orgeta
Contact email
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN75503960
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
People with dementia are at risk of depressive symptoms, sadness and loss of enjoyment of life. This hinders their ability to perform everyday activities even more, poses them at risk of going to a care home earlier than they otherwise would have, and affects their quality of life. There are currently no known effective treatments as medications such as anti-depressants are ineffective and have significant side effects. We therefore must find other ways to prevent and treat depressive symptoms in people with dementia. This study aims to develop a non-drug intervention to prevent depressive symptoms in people with early-stage dementia. This research is based on previous studies showing that psychological interventions may be of benefit for people with dementia. This research will bring together all theoretical knowledge about depression in dementia and talk to families and people with dementia about their ideas to develop a new psychological intervention. The intervention will be planned in a way that meets their needs closely, offering strategies and support to cope with depressive symptoms by identifying pleasant activities that the person with dementia enjoys doing. It will be developed by combining evidence from studies using similar interventions for depression in older people, and by consulting people with dementia, their carers, and professionals who support them. The research team will then find out whether this intervention is feasible and acceptable. People with dementia and their carers will try out the intervention with the support of a graduate psychologist. The study will find out how feasible it is to recruit people with dementia and their families to take part, and how many sessions participants are able to complete. This information will then be used to inform a fully powered future trial in the UK.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0540
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion