Managing depressive symptoms in people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia with a multicomponent...

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the CORDIAL program, a psychosocial intervention consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive rehabilitation, and reminiscence to manage depressive symptoms for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial, based on a two-group (intervention and control), pre-/post-intervention design.

Participants were recruited from five different old age psychiatry and memory clinics at outpatients' hospitals.

Hundred and ninety-eight people with MCI or early-stage dementia were included.

The intervention group (n = 100) received 11 individual weekly sessions of the CORDIAL program. This intervention includes elements from CBT, cognitive rehabilitation, and reminiscence therapy. The control group (n = 98) received treatment-as-usual.

We assessed Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (main outcome), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's disease (secondary outcomes) over the course of 4 months and at a 10-month follow-up visit.

A linear mixed model demonstrated that the depressive symptoms assessed by MADRS were significantly more reduced in the intervention groups as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The effect persisted for 6 months after the intervention. No significant differences between groups were found in neuropsychiatric symptoms or quality of life.

Our multicomponent intervention, which comprised 11 individual sessions of CBT, cognitive rehabilitation, and reminiscence therapy, reduced depressive symptoms in people with MCI and dementia.