Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Caregivers (CBT-C) for Family Caregivers

The use of the Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Support from a Health Care Professional, and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Caregivers Treatments for Caregivers for schizophrenia, or for a caregiver for a loved one with dementia have been shown to be useful in reducing caregivers' burden and improving their health. This is an example of a 'best practice' for care providers to work with care recipients. However, other interventions may exist in the area; this is a good example of a 'best practice' that has to change due in part to the cost of health care as a result of lack of resources and limited funding to care, for both care recipients and caregivers.

Family caregivers have their own personal challenges with a very demanding situation. To enable some support, a multidisciplinary team-approach and multidisciplinary consultation are recommended. The family members experience improved coping capacity in the aftermath of the disease and also of the caregiver's situation. The family members usually are able to cope and to cope well again after a time.

More than two-thirds of Americans (70 percent) with an unmet need for care receive some health care service. These men, women, and children need support provided by family members, friends, and peers. Families, friends, and peers are capable of providing this kind of service. But some chronically ill individuals lack the support they need.

As an important person in the patient's life, family caregivers have an indispensable role in patient's treatment and care.  Family caregivers often have more health related issues and experience more psychological distress than the parents or other caregivers they live with, which may not only cause them more personal burden.  However, family caregivers are not well-informed, which contributes to them not fully taking the appropriate preventive actions or treatment when they have a certain symptom of an illness for their patients.  Therefore, family caregivers' knowledge level needs to be increased, and appropriate preventive measures need to be provided to them.

Caregiving caregivers and their spouses frequently display signs of depression. Data from a recent study may help to identify patients at risk of developing depression.

Data from a recent study has shown that family caregivers do not have a strong need to know reasons for patients' illness. The information provided by family caregivers appears to be very helpful to both patients and consultants. Data from a recent study suggests that family caregivers may also be educated to assist patients. Family caregivers may benefit by being offered supportive groups, courses and other services to help them cope with the demands of caring.

There are many different reasons for family caregivers caring for older adults and their care recipients. The most frequent reasons for caregivers participating in nursing home placement were for personal benefits, a desire to 'give back to society' and to assist persons in their later years of life. These reasons may vary depending on the role of the caregiver in the family situation.

Caregiving is highly prevalent in the nursing home or long-term care setting. The caregiver is an integral part of the patient's care team. Understanding how family members respond to stress will be a key to effectively managing patient and family care.

Findings from a recent study reinforces the importance of obtaining both familial caregivers' and family physicians' perspectives in designing trials that incorporate family members of caregivers of family caregivers. Findings from a recent study also call for family physicians to consider the potential benefits for family care providers and family care recipients when planning a clinical trial.

More research regarding family caregiver needs and outcomes are needed. The present study showed that older caregivers, caregivers who are caring for multiple dependent relatives, caregivers who are Caucasian, and female caregivers have the highest need.

There is growing support for cbt-c interventions for cancer caregivers. Future trials include investigations of the safety and efficacy of cbt-c when delivered by health professionals and as a home-based intervention. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01792598; NCT01446942; NCT01723693; NCT00290510; NCT01651095; NCT00651163; and NCT00494437.