An analysis of community-based nonpharmacological treatments for the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, as alternatives to antipsychotic medication in aging populations around the world
Abstract
Background: Due to global population aging, dementia impacts millions worldwide, and costs billions of dollars annually (2). The adverse events associated with antipsychotic medications, commonly used to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), are not negligible and non-pharmacological interventions must be explored (3).
Objective/Methods: This scoping review answers: What are the recent trends in different countries of community- based nonpharmacological interventions as alternatives to antipsychotic medication for BPSD, and what is efficacy of these treatments? CINAHL and OVID were searched, and the articles were analyzed
Results: Four studies use artistic interventions (5,6,7,8), four use technological interventions (9,10,11,12), and three focus on education and behavior change (13,14,15).
Analysis: A SWOT analysis indicates variable sample populations, countries of origin, interventions and efficacy within these studies.
Conclusion: It is necessary to prioritize research on community-based nonpharmacological interventions for BPSD that promote international collaboration, utilize more diverse populations, and that are promising for use in low-resource settings.
References
1. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). World population ageing 2013. UNDESA; 2013.
2. Alzheimer’s Disease International & World Health Organization. Dementia: A public health priority. ADI & WHO; 2012.
3. Banerjee S. The use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia: Time for action. Department of Health; 2009.
4. Jeste DV, Blazer D, Casey D, Meeks T, Salzman C, Schneider L, et al. ACNP white paper: Update on use of antipsychotic drugs in elderly persons with dementia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008; 33 (5): 957-970.
5. Farinamd E, Mantovani F, Fioravanti R, Pignatti R, Chiavari L, Imbernone E, et al. Evaluating two group programmes of cognitive training in mild-to-moderate AD: Is there any difference between ‘global’ stimulation and a ‘cognitive-specific’ one?. Aging Ment Health. 2006;10(3): 211-218.
6. Tuppen J. The benefits of groups that provide cognitive stimulation for people with dementia. Nurs Older People. 2012;24(10): 20-24.
7. Tolson D, Schofield I. Football reminiscence for men with dementia: Lessons from a realistic evaluation. Nurs Inquiry. 2012;19(1): 63-70.
8. Hattori H, Hattori C, Hokao C, Misushima K, Mase T. Controlled study on the cognitive and psychological effect of coloring and drawing in mild Alzheimer’s disease patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2011;11: 431-437.
9. Oswald F, Wahl HW, Voss E, Schilling O, Freytag T, Auslander, G, et al. The use of tracking technologies for the analysis of outdoor mobility in the face of dementia: First steps into a project and some illustrative findings from Germany. J Hous Elderly. 2010;24, 55-73.
10. Rasquin SMC, Willems C, de Vlieger S, Geers RPJ, Soede M. The use of technical devices to support outdoor mobility of dementia patients. Technol Disabil. 2007;19: 113-120.
11. Odetti L, Anerdi G, Barbieri MP, Mazzei D, Rizza E, Dario P, et al. Preliminary experiments on the acceptability of animaloid companion robots by older people with early dementia. In: EMBS 2007. 29thAnnual International Conference of the IEEE. 23-26 August 2007, Lyon, France. Lyon: IEEE; 2007: 1816-1819.
12. Miskelly F. A novel system of electronic tagging in patients with dementia and wandering. Age Ageing. 2004;33(3): 304-306.
13. Leroi I, Baker P, Kehoe P, Daniel E, Byrne EJ. A pilot randomized controlled trial of sleep therapy in Parkinson’s disease: effect on patients and caregivers. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010;25: 1073-1079.
14. Gitlin LN, Chee YK. Use of adaptive equipment in caring for persons with dementia at home. Alzheimer’s Care Q. 2006;7(1): 32-40.
15. Callahan CM, Boustani MA, Unverzagt FW, Austrom MG, Damush TM, Perkins AJ, et al. Effectiveness of collaborative care for older people with Alzheimer disease in primary care: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295(18), 2148-2157.
16. Rizza AS, Kim GJ. A SWOT analysis of the field of virtual reality rehabilitation and therapy. Presence. 2005;14(2): 119-146.
17. National Institute on Aging (NIA); National Institute of Health (NIH); World Health Organization. Global health and aging. NIA; NIH; WHO; 2011.
18. The World Bank Group. Country and lending groups [date unknown]. Available from: http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups
