Author/ year/study location

Method

(RCT/ controlled/ uncontrolled)

Aim

Characteristic of caregiver &

Care recipient

Intervention

Typology

(group/ individual)

Program length, number, duration

Outcome and instrument

Significant result

1

[37]

USA

RCT

To test

The efficacy of PST for spouses of men with prostate cancer.

Spouse caregivers of men with prostate cancer

N = 164

IG = 78

CG = 86

Individual face-to-face

Ÿ Six to eight sessions

Ÿ Delivered by trained staff

Timing:

Ÿ Preintervention

Ÿ Post-intervention

Ÿ 3-month post intervention follow-up

Outcome measurement:

Ÿ Problem-solving

Ÿ Cancer-related distress

Ÿ Mood states

Ÿ Quality of life

Ÿ Quality of romantic relationships

Ÿ Constructive problem-solving improved more for intervention.

Ÿ Greater decrease in cancer-related distress for intervention.

Ÿ Greater improvement in dyadic relationship for intervention.

2

[35]

USA

RCT

To examine whether problem- solving therapy (PST) would reduce burden levels of caregivers

Caregivers of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early-stage dementia (AD)

N = 73

Intervention: 36

Control: 37

Individual

Face-to-face and telephone contact

Nine-sessions with two phases.

Timing:

Ÿ Preintervention

Ÿ One-month post-intervention

Ÿ 3-months post intervention

Ÿ 6-month post intervention

Ÿ 12month post intervention

Outcome measurement:

Ÿ Subjective and objective caregiver burden

Ÿ Caregivers reduced burden levels in IG.

Ÿ Distress for caregivers in IG remained low over time.

3/1

[29]

Spain

RCT

To evaluate the 8-year effect of indicated

Prevention of depression in female caregivers.

Non-professional female caregivers with subclinical depressive symptoms

N = 173

IG = 89

CG:84

Four-six participants in one group

Face-to-face

Five weekly group sessions

Timing:

Ÿ Preintervention

Ÿ One-month post-intervention

Ÿ 1-months post intervention

Ÿ 3-month post intervention

Ÿ 6-month post intervention

Ÿ 1-year follow-up

Outcome measurement:

Ÿ Depression status

Ÿ Depressive symptom severity

Ÿ Lower depressive symptom severity for caregivers in IG.