Impact of a Mental Health Gap (mhGAP) Module on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and Caregiver Burden in a South Indian Community

Abstract

Background: Non pharmacological interventions are the first line treatment recommended for behavioral
and psychological symptoms of dementia and mental health gap module is a non-pharmacological
interventions based program developed by Word Health Organization for dementia patients especially in
low and middle income countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of mental health gap
module on Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiver burden in a south Indian rural
community.
Methods: A quasi experimental one group pretest posttest time series design study was conducted among
61 elderly with dementia in a south Indian rural community who were selected using purposive sampling.
Pre interventional assessment was done with Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire and Zarit Burden
Interview. A multifaceted mental health gap intervention was delivered to the patients through monthly home
visit by community health workers for one year and impact on behavioral and psychological symptoms and
caregiver burden was tested at six weeks, three months and 12 months.
Conclusion : There was a significant improvement in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
and caregiver burden during study period. This study proved that behavioral and psychological symptoms
of dementia and caregiver burden can be managed though home based non pharmacological interventions
using community health workers which is a beneficial and cost effective model for low and middle income
countries.