Effects of Psychoeducation on Burden, Depression, and Anxiety in Informal Caregivers of Patients With Dementia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Background: As dementia rises globally, caregivers face prolonged and demanding responsibilities, increasing their risk of burden, depression, and anxiety. Psychoeducation offers dementia-related information, behavior management strategies, and caregiver support to improve mental health and caregiving effectiveness. However, research on its effects across delivery methods remains limited. Objective: We aimed to identify the effectiveness of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety among informal dementia caregivers. Dementia, often involving memory loss and behavioral changes, imposes sustained psychological strain on caregivers. This review clarifies the benefits of psychoeducation to inform the development of effective, targeted interventions. Methods: Following established guidelines, this review included randomized controlled trials published in English. Eligible studies involved primary family caregivers (≥18 years old) providing home-based care and reporting burden, with depression and anxiety assessed if available. Comparisons included usual care or non-psychoeducation interventions. Results: Twenty-three articles (2651 caregivers) showed that 10 reduced burden, 7 of 15 reduced depression, and 3 of 8 reduced anxiety. One study targeting a specific population found statistically significant improvements in both burden and depression. Another reported no overall effect on depression, but a subgroup with baseline scores above the cut-off showed statistically significant improvements, while the control group worsened. Conclusions: Psychoeducation is effective in reducing burden, depression, and anxiety, with 43.5% of the included studies reporting statistically significant improvements. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of 7-session, 7-week psychoeducation in reducing burden, depression, and anxiety, using validated measures to assess long-term outcomes and refine strategies for diverse caregiver populations.