Sabrina D Ross, Nadja Ziegert, Francisca S Rodriguez
{"title":"Non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care: what is being implemented.","authors":"Sabrina D Ross, Nadja Ziegert, Francisca S Rodriguez","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10120","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are recognised for their potential in treating dementia symptoms. However, little is known about the extent of their use. In this study, we conducted structured interviews with people with dementia and their family caregivers (<i>n</i> = 50), professional caregivers (<i>n</i> = 42) and dementia care coordinators (<i>n</i> = 42) on the use of 14 NPIs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cognitive stimulation/training, physical activity and occupational therapy were implemented by most participants, whereas neurofeedback, drama therapy and phototherapy were rarely used. Most NPIs were carried out weekly. People with dementia and their caregivers reported using significantly fewer NPIs than other participants (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Participants perceived effects for, on average, 90.3% (s.d. = 31.3%) of the NPIs that they used.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Providing targeted support and funding might help to increase the use of NPIs by family caregivers as well as in institutional care settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"BJPsych Bulletin","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10120","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims and method: Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are recognised for their potential in treating dementia symptoms. However, little is known about the extent of their use. In this study, we conducted structured interviews with people with dementia and their family caregivers (n = 50), professional caregivers (n = 42) and dementia care coordinators (n = 42) on the use of 14 NPIs.
Results: Cognitive stimulation/training, physical activity and occupational therapy were implemented by most participants, whereas neurofeedback, drama therapy and phototherapy were rarely used. Most NPIs were carried out weekly. People with dementia and their caregivers reported using significantly fewer NPIs than other participants (P < 0.001). Participants perceived effects for, on average, 90.3% (s.d. = 31.3%) of the NPIs that they used.
Clinical implications: Providing targeted support and funding might help to increase the use of NPIs by family caregivers as well as in institutional care settings.
期刊介绍:
BJPsych Bulletin prioritises research, opinion and informed reflection on the state of psychiatry, management of psychiatric services, and education and training in psychiatry. It provides essential reading and practical value to psychiatrists and anyone involved in the management and provision of mental healthcare.