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Title: | A comparison of two treatments of agitated behavior in nursing home residents with dementia: Simulated family presence and preferred music. | Authors: | O'Connor D.W.;Garland K.;Beer E.;Eppingstall B. | Institution: | (Beer, Eppingstall, O'Connor) Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Garland) Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Behavioral Studies (Garland, Beer, Eppingstall, O'Connor) Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia (O'Connor) Kingston Centre, Warrigal Rd., Cheltenham, VIC 3192, Australia | Issue Date: | 20-Jul-2009 | Copyright year: | 2007 | Publisher: | Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (530 Walnut Street,P O Box 327, Philadelphia PA 19106-3621, United States) | Place of publication: | United States | Publication information: | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 15 (6) (pp 514-521), 2007. Date of Publication: June 2007. | Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two individualized psychosocial treatments in reducing the frequency of physically and verbally agitated behaviors in nursing home residents whose dementia was complicated by marked behavioral disturbance. METHOD(S): Thirty nursing home residents with frequent, severe behavioral disturbances were observed by research staff before, during, and after multiple, randomized, single-blind exposures to 15-minute audiotapes of simulated family presence (a conversation prepared by a family member about positive experiences from the past), music preferred by the resident in earlier life, and a placebo condition of a reading from a horticultural text. Selected (usually multiple) physical and verbal behaviors were counted as present or absent at regular intervals. All three treatment conditions were compared with usual care. RESULT(S): Simulated presence and preferred music both proved effective in reducing counts of physically agitated behaviors. Simulated presence, but not music, resulted in significantly reduced counts of verbally agitated behaviors. The placebo tape proved more effective than expected. Participants' responses to simulated presence and music varied widely. Behavior counts fell by one-half or more in many cases. Other residents became more agitated. CONCLUSION(S): Participants' better-than-expected responses to the placebo tape suggest that even the simplest technology can improve the lives of confused, disturbed nursing home residents. Of the two psychosocial treatments, preferred music tapes were easier to make and were clearly helpful in many instances. By contrast, family members often struggled to recall enough happy memories to compile a simulated presence tape. Simulated presence might prove just as effective if relatives speak on topics of their own choosing. Although not all residents were helped by these treatments, adverse effects were mild and shortlived. 00019442-200706000-00008. | DOI: | http://monash.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.JGP.0000249388.37080.b4 | PubMed URL: | 17293386 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17293386] | ISSN: | 1064-7481 | URI: | https://repository.monashhealth.org/monashhealthjspui/handle/1/31510 | Type: | Article | Subjects: | crossover procedure *dementia/di [Diagnosis] disease course disease severity family *family therapy female happiness human intermethod comparison male *music therapy personal experience physical capacity *psychosocial care randomized controlled trial recall relative simulation single blind procedure therapy effect treatment outcome treatment response verbal behavior placebo psychotropic agent/dt [Drug Therapy] nursing home patient adverse outcome aged *agitation article audio recording behavior disorder/dt [Drug Therapy] *behavior disorder/co [Complication] *behavior disorder/dt [Drug Therapy] *behavior disorder/th [Therapy] clinical article clinical effectiveness clinical trial controlled clinical trial controlled study conversation controlled clinical trial controlled study conversation crossover procedure *dementia / *diagnosis disease course disease severity family *family therapy female happiness human intermethod comparison male *music therapy nursing home patient personal experience physical capacity *psychosocial care randomized controlled trial recall relative simulation aged therapy effect treatment outcome treatment response verbal behavior adverse outcome single blind procedure *agitation article audio recording behavior disorder / drug therapy *behavior disorder / *complication / *drug therapy / *therapy clinical article clinical effectiveness clinical trial |
Type of Clinical Study or Trial: | Randomised controlled trial |
Appears in Collections: | Articles |
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