Posttraumatic stress disorder in people with dementia: study protocol

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Gerontology

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an independent risk factor for dementia.
• Limited research exists on PTSD prevalence and clinical presentation in individuals with dementia.
• A lack of structured diagnostic tools hinders accurate PTSD assessment in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• Validate the 'TRAuma and DEmentia' interview for diagnosing PTSD in people with dementia.
• Assess the feasibility of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for individuals with dementia and PTSD.
• Improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment options for PTSD in dementia patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multi-centre study divided into two parts.
• Study A: Validating the 'TRAuma and DEmentia' interview with 90 dementia participants.
• Study B: Assessing EMDR therapy feasibility in 58 dementia and PTSD participants (29 treatment, 29 waitlist control).

Main Results:

• Criterion validity, inter-rater reliability, and feasibility of the 'TRAuma and DEmentia' interview will be assessed.
• Feasibility and potential effects of EMDR treatment on individuals with dementia and PTSD will be evaluated.
• Comparative analysis between the EMDR treatment group and the waitlist control group.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to enhance the diagnostic process for PTSD in individuals with dementia.
• It seeks to determine the effectiveness of EMDR therapy as a treatment for PTSD in this population.
• Findings are expected to benefit patients in Dutch care facilities by improving care and treatment strategies.