Can reality orientation be rehabilitated? Development and piloting of an evidence-based programme of cognition-based therapies for people with dementia
- 1 July 2001
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
- Vol. 11 (3-4), 377-397
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09602010143000068
Abstract
This study describes the development and implementation of a programme of cognition-based therapies for dementia. The programme was designed by distilling the evidence of the effectiveness of Reality Orientation and related approaches, following a broad-based systematic review. The most beneficial elements identified from previous studies were extracted and incorporated into the programme, using the expertise of specialists in the field. The programme comprised of 15 45-min, twice weekly sessions. It ran in one day centre and three residential homes, involving 27 people with dementia (17 treatment and 10 control subjects). The results of the pilot study showed positive trends in cognition, and trends towards reduced depression and anxiety following treatment. No negative effects were identified. We discuss how the outcomes of the pilot study were used to modify the programme, which now has a stronger cognitive element. This refined programme is currently being tested as part of a large multicentre, randomised controlled trial.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- The development of a valid and reliable scale for rating anxiety in dementia (RAID)Aging & Mental Health, 1999
- Errorless learning of face-name associations in early Alzheimer's diseaseNeurocase, 1999
- Reality Orientation Therapy in Alzheimer DiseaseAlzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 1995
- The Dialectics of Dementia: With Particular Reference to Alzheimer's DiseaseAgeing and Society, 1990
- Reminiscence Groups with Confused Nursing Center ResidentsPublished by Informa UK Limited ,1989
- Reality orientation therapy — a controlled trialPsychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 1983
- Memory Training for Severe Memory Loss: Effects on Senile Dementia Patients and Their FamiliesThe Gerontologist, 1982
- A New Clinical Scale for the Staging of DementiaThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 1982
- An evaluation of reality orientation therapyJournal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 1982
- Reality Orientation: A Milieu Therapy Used in an Institution for the AgedThe Gerontologist, 1977