- Many people with dementia also deal with mental health issues such as anxiety, and depression.
- Researchers from University College London recently found that talk therapy helped 63% of people with dementia lower their symptoms of depression or anxiety.
- The research team stated that psychotherapy helped 40% of participants improve their symptoms to the point where depression or anxiety were no longer diagnosed.
Previous research has shown that many people with dementia also have mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
A new study from University College London (UCL) found that talk therapy improved depression and anxiety symptoms in 63% of people with dementia.
In addition, 40% of participants improved to the point that they were no longer diagnosed with anxiety or depression at the end of their treatment.
This study was recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.
What is talk therapy?
Talk therapy — also known as psychotherapy — involves talking to a psychiatric professional about what is bothering you.
What you talk about varies from person to person and can include discussions about how you’re feeling right now, what you’ve been thinking about recently and any health concerns you might have, such as sleeping problems.
As you talk with the mental health professional, they’ll draw on advice and information you provide to find out what might be making you sick and what types of additional treatment you might need.
Mental health professionals use talk therapy to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including:
- anxiety states
- depressions
- Anger issues
- addictions
- phobias
- eating disorders
- , traumatic experiences, such as divorce or loss of a loved one
,
,
,
,
,
.
Previous research shows that feelings of sadness, anger, and pain subside when a person verbalizes their thoughts.
A previous study found that talk therapy helps strengthen certain connections in the brain and influences a person’s long-term recovery.
Talk Therapy and Dementia
For the new study, UCL researchers looked at data from over 1,500 people with dementia and took part in improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) in the UK between 2012 and 2019. IAPT offers free treatments for anxiety and depression, including a type of talk therapy called cognitive therapy Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is called.
Conversation therapy sessions took place either face to face, individually, in a group or online.
The researchers then compared the data with a control group of around 1,300 people who did not have dementia.
During the analysis, the research team found that 63% of people with dementia reduced their symptoms of depression or anxiety by taking part in talk therapy.
In addition, 40% of dementia participants improved to the point that they were no longer diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
Why are non-pharmacological treatment options important?
According to lead author of the study Georgia Bell, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology and Linguistics at University College London (UCL), she wasn’t surprised that people with dementia could benefit from talk therapy.
But Bell said she was a bit surprised at how effective talk therapy seemed to be and found the study results encouraging.
“There is no clear evidence of the usefulness of anti-anxiety and depression medications for dementia,” Bell told Medical News Today. “In addition, many people, regardless of whether they have dementia or not, would rather have talk therapy than medication to solve their mental health problems.”
“As a result, it is important to have talk therapy as an option for people with dementia to deal with anxiety and depression. This is particularly important because anxiety and depression are very common among people with dementia — much more often than in people without — and have many negative consequences. It is therefore important to find good treatment options.”
— Georgia Bell, lead author of the study
Medical News Today, also spoke with Beth A. Kallmyer, MSW, vice president of care and support at the Alzheimer’s Association, about this study. According to Kallmyer, the results of this study were very promising as mental health is an important part of the dementia experience and can sometimes be overlooked.
“Depression assessment should be part of the care plan for a person living with dementia,” she explained.
“In addition, the stage of the disease and the degree of cognitive decline are an important factor to consider when using talk therapy with a person with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. They should have a treatment plan that takes into account the progression of the disease and the role of the caregiver over the course of the illness and symptoms.”
Kallmyer added that it is important to have non-medical treatment options for people with dementia, as drug treatments can have side effects that may unnecessarily affect people with dementia or interact poorly with other medications.
“It is important to investigate non-medical treatments that have minimal or no side effects. Treating the symptoms of the disease is an important part of person-centered care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association provides clinicians with care planning guidance, which includes evaluation of depression and plans to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms.”
Looking for a therapist
For people with dementia who suffer from depression or anxiety and are interested in trying talk therapy, Kallmyer said they or their loved ones could call Alzheimer’s Association Helpline to find therapists near them.
Additionally, Kallmyer suggested talking to her GP or neurological clinic to request a referral.
The American Psychological Association (APA) also offers an online psychologist locator that can be searched by zip code, provider name, or practice area.
And if you’re looking for a therapist for yourself or a loved one, take note of these tips:
- Make sure the therapist has a license and accepts your health insurance.
- Talk to the therapist on the phone first to find out what they specialize in to make sure it meets your needs.
- Ask if they offer teletherapy in case a face-to-face meeting is difficult or not.
- Remember that choosing a mental health therapist is a very personal decision — you’re not bound to a therapist if you don’t connect with them, and you can change your therapist anytime.