# Family Telemental Health Intervention for Veterans with Dementia

> **NIH VA I21** · VA NEW YORK HARBOR HLTHCARE/SYS/BROOKLYN · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
Background: Nearly 300,000 Veterans served by the Department of Veteran Affairs have dementia. 1,2
Related behavioral symptoms such as agitation, repetitive behaviors, and apathy are interpersonally
challenging and associated with institutionalization, morbidity and mortality for these individuals. These
behaviors are also associated with depression, burden, and frustration for family caregivers. 3-5 Despite
significant investment in caregiver interventions to reduce behavioral symptoms, symptom improvement as
well as change in caregiver depression, burden, and frustration remain modest. 6 Although a variety of factors
may impact treatment response, we have identified interpersonal skills deficits as a significant predictor of
response to caregiver interventions. 7-10 Deficits in interpersonal skills may interfere with a caregiver’s
successful implementation of behavioral strategies taught in current caregiver interventions. Although some
caregivers self-identify deficits in interpersonal skill, many lack insight into how such deficits may affect
behavioral symptom. 11,12 Existing interventions have not sufficiently focused on assessing caregiver
interpersonal skills and, when identified, providing caregivers with relevant training prior to implementing
behavioral management strategies.
Objectives/Methods: This project involves two simultaneous activities: (1) refinement and pilot testing of
a tele-health based observational coding manual (OCM) to evaluate the interpersonal skills of family
caregivers interacting with care-recipients with dementia (hereafter referred to as “dyads”) who display
behavioral symptoms, and (2) development and pilot testing of a tele-health family intervention to improve
caregiver interpersonal skills.
(1) Refining and pilot testing the OCM: We will convene an Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) with expertise in
interpersonal and family caregiving processes and family psychotherapy to provide feedback on the OCM.
The OCM represents an adaptation of previously established and reliable coding manuals developed for
assessing interaction patterns in couples, families, and dementia caregiver research. 13-15 Using an
iterative process of refinement based on EAP feedback, pilot coding of video from five initial dyads, and
feedback from those dyads we will use coding schemes originally developed for research and adapt them
for clinical use. We will then recruit 15 additional dyads and videotape their interactions. Five Psychology
Trainees will be trained on the OCM. The PI and pairs of Psychology Trainees will independently code
each video to assess validity (face, concurrent, convergent, discriminant, content, and criterion), reliability
(alternate form, inter-rater, and internal consistency) and analyze qualitative data from semi-structured
interviews of caregivers, care-recipients, and clinicians to assess acceptability and utility of the OCM.
(2) Development and pilot testing of the Family Intervention: As the OC...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176588
- **Project number:** 5I21HX002256-02
- **Recipient organization:** VA NEW YORK HARBOR HLTHCARE/SYS/BROOKLYN
- **Principal Investigator:** CORY Keryei CHEN
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2019-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176588

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176588, Family Telemental Health Intervention for Veterans with Dementia (5I21HX002256-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176588. Licensed CC0.

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