title: Reality orientation for dementia: a systematic review of the evidence of effectiveness from randomized controlled trials.
abstract: The effectiveness of classroom reality orientation (RO) in dementia was evaluated by conducting a systematic literature review. This yielded 43 studies, of which 6 were randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria (containing 125 subjects.) Results were subjected to meta-analysis. Effects on cognition and behavior were significant in favor of treatment (cognition standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.95(-)-0.22; behavior SMD = -0.64, 95% CI = -1.20(-)-0.08). The evidence indicates that RO has benefits on both cognition and behavior for dementia sufferers. However, a continued program may be needed to sustain potential benefits. Future research should evaluate RO in well-designed multicenter trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University College London, England.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orrell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy; D001519:Behavior; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011936:Reality Testing; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome