“INVEST in Parkinsonian Dementias“
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Psychosocial Therapy to Benefit People with Parkinson’s-related\nDementia: A Feasibility and Exploratory Pilot Study of Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (INVEST).
IRAS ID
166392
Contact name
Julia Foster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN11455062
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
The cost of dementia to the UK is over £17 billion a year and it is estimated that further £6 billion a year is saved due to family caregivers of people with dementia (Knapp et al., 2007). Increasing NHS availability and the evidence-base for psychosocial therapies for dementia is a key objective of the National Dementia Strategy (2009) and other national dementia policy drivers. However there is almost no evidence to support their use in people with more complex forms of dementia such as Parkinson’s with dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Only very limited drug-based treatments are available for these groups which comprise 7-10% of the dementia population (Alzheimer’s UK, 2013). Without adequate management, the risk of being admitted to care is high. Our PPI and PD expert consultees support the need to extend psychosocial therapies to those with PDD/DLB and there is great need for a non-drug-based therapy.\n\nWe have adapted a type of psychosocial therapy, individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) that can form the basis of a novel PDD/DLB-specific non-drug intervention. There is evidence that CST is a cost-effective, well-tolerated, easily trained therapy for people with dementia and is already in widespread use in the NHS. It is based on the principle that stimulating engagement in cognitive and social activity enhances cognitive function and quality of life. To date, the evidence for this therapy in PDD/DLB is negligible (Hindle et al, 2013).\n\nIn this application we propose to trial the adapted therapy manuals in a pilot clinical trial. CST has the potential to improve the symptoms of PDD/LBD, thereby providing benefit to patients by improving quality of life and the relationship with their carer. The study findings will be used to inform the design of a large-scale clinical trial of a psychosocial intervention. \n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0531
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion