TY  - JOUR
A1  - Deeken, Friederike
A1  - Rezo, Anna
A1  - Hinz, Matthias
A1  - Discher, Robert
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
T1  - Evaluation of technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of patients with dementia
BT  - a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
JF  - The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
N2  - Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia (PWD). Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched in August 2018, with no restrictions in language or publication date. Two independent reviewers identified 33 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducting a technology-based intervention for informal carers of PWD. Meta-analyses for the outcome measures caregiver depression and caregiver burden were conducted with subgroup analyses according to mode of delivery (telephone, computer/web-based, combined interventions). To assess methodologic quality, the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment was rated. Results: Meta-analyses revealed a small but significant postintervention effect of technology-based interventions for caregiver depression and caregiver burden. Combined interventions showed the strongest effects. Conclusion: Technology-based interventions have the potential to support informal caregivers of PWD. Because of advantages such as high flexibility and availability, technology-based interventions provide a promising alternative compared with "traditional services," e.g., those for people living in rural areas. More high-quality RCTs for specific caregiver groups are needed.
KW  - Caregiver
KW  - dementia
KW  - technology
KW  - meta-analysis
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2018.12.003
SN  - 1064-7481
SN  - 1545-7214
VL  - 27
IS  - 4
SP  - 426
EP  - 445
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - New York
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Block, Andrea
A1  - Schulze, Susanne
A1  - Deeken, Friederike
A1  - Häusler, Andreas
A1  - Rezo, Anna
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Wippert, Pia-Maria
T1  - Effects of inflammatory markers and biographical stress on treatment response in depression
JF  - Psychoneuroendocrinology : an international journal ; the official journal of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology
N2  - Background
Recent research emphasized the role of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of depression. Theories hypothesizes that life events (LE) can affect the immune system and trigger depressive symptoms. LE are also considered as one of the best predictors for the onset and course of depressive disorders.

Methods
Observational study across three treatment settings: n=208 depressive patients (75.5%f, M 46.6 y) were examined on depression (BDI-II), life events (ILE) and inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen, ICAM-1, TNF-alpha, E-selectin) at baseline (t0), 5-week(t1) and 5-month(t2) follow-up. Effects and interactions were analyzed with regression models.

Results
LE were associated with depressive symptoms at t0 (beta=.209; p=.002) and both follow-ups. Except for CRP, which was linked to depression symptoms at t2 (betai=-.190; p=.032), there were no effects of inflammatory markers on depressive symptoms. At t1, an interaction between CRP and LE in total (beta=-.249; p=.041) was found as well as for LE in the past five years (beta=-.122; p=.027). Similar interactions were found between cumulative LE and ICAM-1 (beta=-.197; p=.003) and IL-6 (beta=-.425; p=.001).

Conclusion
The cumulative burden of LE effects symptoms and treatment outcome in depressive patients. There is some evidence that inflammatory marker may have long-term effects on treatment outcome as they seem to weaken the determining relation between LE and depression.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105535
SN  - 0306-4530
SN  - 1873-3360
VL  - 131
IS  - Supplement
SP  - S24
EP  - S24
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  -