Validation of the German version of the state mindfulness scale for physical activity in a clinical sample.

Background: Mindfulness has been studied as a treatment option for a large range of psychological disorders and is associated with a multitude of positive psychological outcomes. There are now several scales for measuring mindfulness as both a trait and a state. As mindfulness potentially plays a critical role in maintaining physical activity habits, the State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMS-PA) was developed to specifically measure mindfulness in a physical activity context.

Individualised computerised cognitive training (iCCT) for community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI): results on cognition in the 6-month intervention period of a randomised controlled trial (MCI-CCT study).

Background: Computerised cognitive training (CCT) can improve the cognitive abilities of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially when the CCT contains a learning system, which is a type of machine learning (ML) that automatically selects exercises at a difficulty that corresponds to the person's peak performance and thus enables individualised training.

Methods: We developed one individualised CCT (iCCT) with ML and one basic CCT (bCCT) for an active control group (CG). The study aimed to determine whether iCCT in the intervention group (IG) resulted in significantly greater enhancements in overall cognitive functioning for individuals with MCI (age 60+) compared with bCCT in the CG across a 6-month period.

The roles of employment status and income in the mental health of informal caregivers in Germany.

Background: Informal caregivers often experience multiple negative consequences as a result of the informal care they provide. Among other factors, employment status, financial resources, and mental health are related to informal caregiving. This analysis examined the association between informal caregivers' employment status and their mental health, as well as the moderating effect of net household income on this relationship.

New ways to cope with depression-study protocol for a randomized controlled mixed methods trial of bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) and mental model therapy (MMT).

Background: Due to the growing gap between the demand and supply of therapeutic services for people suffering from depression, with this study, we are investigating the effectiveness and factors of influence of new approaches in group treatments for depression. Two previous studies have already identified bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) as an effective option. It combines psychotherapeutic interventions with action- and body-oriented bouldering exercises.

Treating depression in an outpatient setting: Predictors of patient response to bouldering psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or exercise alone.

Background: Bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) for depression has proven effective, but nothing is known about its potential predictors of response. This study should identify predictors of response to BPT, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and an active control (home-based exercise programme; EP) using a literature-based model.

Methods: In a multicentre randomised controlled trial, 233 outpatients were assigned to BPT, CBT or EP.

Non-pharmacological, psychosocial MAKS-s intervention for people with severe dementia in nursing homes: results of a cluster-randomised trial.

Background: Severe dementia is one of the most challenging conditions when caring for people in nursing homes. A manualised non-pharmacological, psychosocial group intervention especially adapted to the needs of people with severe dementia (PWSDs) is currently still lacking. To close this gap, we adapted the evidence-based multicomponent non-pharmacological MAKS intervention (Motor stimulation, ADL stimulation, Cognitive [german: Kognitive] stimulation, and Social functioning in a group setting) to the special needs of PWSDs called the MAKS-s intervention, where the s stands for severe dementia.

Individualised computerised cognitive training for community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol of a completely virtual, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of converting to dementia. Cognitive training can improve the cognitive abilities of people with MCI. Computerised cognitive training (CCT) offers several advantages over traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive training and has the potential to be more individualised by matching task difficulty with individual performance.

The DemWG study: reducing the risk of hospitalisation through a complex intervention for people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in German shared-housing arrangements: study protocol of a prospective, mixed-methods, multicentre, cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Shared-housing arrangements (SHAs) are small, home-like care environments in Germany. Residents are predominantly people with dementia. The risk for all-cause hospitalisation is consistently higher for people with dementia compared with people without dementia and there is currently no evidence-based intervention to reduce the risk of hospitalisation.

The MAKS-s study: multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention for people with severe dementia in inpatient care - study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Nursing homes accommodate a large number of people with severe dementia. More than 80% of residents with dementia suffer from behavioural and psychological symptoms, that can have consequences on the perceived burden of the formal caregivers. Internationally, the number of studies on non-pharmacological interventions for people with severe dementia is very small.

Bouldering psychotherapy is more effective in the treatment of depression than physical exercise alone: results of a multicentre randomised controlled intervention study.

Background: Recent scientific studies have suggested that climbing/bouldering is effective in alleviating depression when the comparison group was a waitlist control group, even when physical activity and other therapeutic approaches were controlled for. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a manualised psychotherapeutic bouldering intervention for depressed individuals, compared with an active control group performing physical exercise alone.

Methods: In a multicentre randomised controlled intervention trial, 133 outpatients with depression were assigned to either a bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) group or a home-based supervised exercise programme (EP).

A German climbing study on depression: a bouldering psychotherapeutic group intervention in outpatients compared with state-of-the-art cognitive behavioural group therapy and physical activation - study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Besides classical approaches for treating depression, physical activity has been demonstrated to be an effective option. Bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) combines psychotherapeutic interventions with action-oriented elements from the field of climbing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of BPT compared with a home-based exercise program (EP - active control group, superiority trial) and state-of-the-art cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT - non-inferiority trial).

Brief telephone counselling is effective for caregivers who do not experience any major life events - caregiver-related outcomes of the German day-care study.

Background: To date, there has been a dearth of scientifically tested, established intervention concepts focussed on supporting informal caregivers and embedded in routine health care structures. The aim of this study was to assess effects of a brief telephone intervention for caregivers of persons with cognitive impairment (PCIs) on caregivers' depressiveness and subjective burden.

Methods: A two-arm cluster-randomised controlled intervention study was carried out at 32 German day-care centres.

The German day-care study: multicomponent non-drug therapy for people with cognitive impairment in day-care centres supplemented with caregiver counselling (DeTaMAKS) - study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: It is the wish of both people with cognitive impairment and their informal caregivers for the impaired person to live at home for as long as possible. This is also in line with economic arguments about health. The existing structure of day-care services for the elderly can be used to achieve this.

Tailored e-Health services for the dementia care setting: a pilot study of 'eHealthMonitor'.

Background: The European eHealthMonitor project (eHM) developed a user-sensitive and interactive web portal for dementia care: the eHM Dementia Portal (eHM-DP). It aims to provide targeted and personalized support for informal caregivers of people with dementia in a home-based care setting. The objective of the pilot study was to obtain feedback on the eHM-DP from two user perspectives (caregivers and medical professionals), focusing on caregiver empowerment, decision aid, and the perceived benefits of the eHM-DP.

Professional Care Team Burden (PCTB) scale - reliability, validity and factor analysis.

Background: There is growing concern about how to provide care for persons with dementia in institutions such as nursing homes, day care centers, mobile services and hospitals. Care teams (formal caregivers) have to meet specific expectations from different sides: the Person with Dementia herself, the institution, and from different family members. Out of this situation, considerable burden can emerge hindering the professional development of care team members and counteracting quality of care of care recipients.