Enhancing Cognitive Function and Emotion Regulation in Women with Dementia: The Efficacy of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) in reducing cognitive failures and improving emotion regulation in women with dementia.

Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 women diagnosed with dementia, randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=15) receiving CRT or a control group (n=15) receiving standard care. The intervention consisted of eight 60-minute CRT sessions over eight weeks, focusing on memory, attention, executive function, and emotion regulation strategies. Cognitive failures and emotion regulation were assessed using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), respectively. Follow-up assessments were conducted four months post-intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.

Findings: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in cognitive failures (CFQ score: pre-intervention M = 58.3, SD = 6.7; post-intervention M = 46.1, SD = 5.8; p < 0.01) compared to the control group (CFQ score: pre-intervention M = 57.9, SD = 6.5; post-intervention M = 56.8, SD = 6.2; p = 0.23). Similarly, significant improvements were observed in emotion regulation for the intervention group (DERS score: pre-intervention M = 102.5, SD = 11.2; post-intervention M = 87.4, SD = 10.3; p < 0.01) compared to the control group (DERS score: pre-intervention M = 103.1, SD = 10.9; post-intervention M = 101.7, SD = 10.8; p = 0.19).

Conclusion: Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy significantly reduces cognitive failures and improves emotion regulation in women with dementia. These findings support the incorporation of CRT into treatment plans for dementia patients, highlighting the importance of addressing both cognitive and emotional aspects in therapy.