Home-based exercise for depressive symptoms among carers of persons with dementia: interim findings

Abstract

We report the interim findings of a randomised controlled trial that assessed the efficacy of a home-based exercise programme in alleviating depression among caregivers of persons with dementia. In this single-blind trial, participants were randomly assigned to receive eight sessions of home-based 12-step sitting Tai Chi or a standard non-exercise social contact control, which spanned over 12 weeks. Clinical response was evaluated with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17), Zarit Carer Burden Interview (ZBI), and cognitive assessment. A total of 138 primary caregivers of persons with dementia have been recruited. Sixty-nine caregivers were randomised to the Tai Chi group whereas 69 to the control group. To date, 86 caregivers have completed the study. Using linear mixed models, HAM-D-17 scores were found to decline significantly among Tai Chi participants at both week 6 and 12 (p<0.05). In addition, delayed recall also improved in the intervention group at week 12 (p<0.05). ZBI and other cognitive test scores did not change significantly. Our interim results suggested that Tai Chi was well tolerated and associated with reductions in the severity of depressive symptoms in caregivers.