Prognostic factors for a favourable long-term outcome from an integrative psychotherapeutic nursing home programme

The prevalence of multiple psychiatric symptoms (MPS) in psychogeriatric patients is about 80%. MPS have negative effects on caregivers; 70-80% of caregivers are moderately to heavily burdened. We tested an integrative psychotherapeutic programme (IRR) focused on MPS as well as caregiver burden. To develop decision rules in indicating IRR, prognostic potentialities of diagnostic and functional baseline variables for a favourable outcome of IRR were identified.

Patients with a DSM-IV classification of dementia, amnestic disorders or other cognitive disorders were followed in a randomised controlled trial, comparing IRR (n=81) with usual nursing home care (n=87). Assessments at T1 (intake) and T2 (6 months' follow-up).

In the combined prognostic models Alzheimer dementia showed significant prognostic qualities for improvement on NPI sum severity (OR 3.01), IRR on general burden and competence of caregiver (OR 2.29 and 3.34). Cognitive functions had low prognostic value.

Prognostic modelling of positive change on severity of MPS and caregiver burden was feasible. Applying three decision rules, all resulted in IRR as indicated intervention. It seems justified to refer psychogeriatric patients suffering from a broad range of cognitive function disorders, specifically patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type, to the IRR programme.