Effectiveness of Psychoeducational Interventions for Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

BackgroundInformal caregivers of people with dementia experience substantial psychological burden, affecting caregiver well-being and care sustainability.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions in reducing caregiver burden among informal caregivers of people with dementia.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted across major databases. Eligible interventions combined structured dementia education with skills-based training. Caregiver burden, measured using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) or validated adaptations, was the primary outcome. A random-effects model (REML) was used.ResultsTwelve trials were included and meta-analyzed. Psychoeducational interventions significantly reduced caregiver burden compared with control conditions (Hedges' g = -0.45; 95% CI [-0.61, -0.28]; p < .001). Comparator type was associated with differences in effect estimates; however, this moderator finding should be interpreted cautiously because subgroup analyses were exploratory and some categories included few studies. Mean caregiver age and gender composition were not significant moderators.