Cognitive stimulation therapy in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the efficacy of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
a randomized, controlled, rater-blind clinical trial.


METHODS
the military sanatorium.


METHODS
thirty-two patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease exhibiting marked neuropsychiatric symptoms were included in the study.


METHODS
all 32 patients were randomly assigned to a cognitive stimulation therapy group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 16) for 10 weeks.


METHODS
the efficacy measures included the Mini Mental State Examination and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.


RESULTS
patients receiving cognitive stimulation therapy showed a greater improvement in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory total score (mean change - 2.06 points versus 0.00 points, t = -4.766, P<0.001) and in the Mini Mental State Examination total score (mean change 0.81 points versus -0.19 points, t =3.106, P =0.004) compared to control at week 10. Analysis of the individual Neuropsychiatric Inventory domains revealed a statistically significant benefit for cognitive stimulation therapy-treated patients in the areas of apathy (mean change -1.06 points versus -0.31 points, P =0.017) and depression/dysphoria (mean change -0.50 points versus 0.06 points, P =0.047). There were no statistically significant benefits for cognitive stimulation therapy-treated patients in the other individual Neuropsychiatric Inventory domains or in the caregiver distress score.


CONCLUSIONS
cognitive stimulation therapy has significant efficacy in lowering apathy and depression symptomatology and in the Mini Mental State Examination in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Niu
Yi-Xuan
YX
Department of Neurology, South Building of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Tan
Ji-Ping
JP
Guan
Jin-Qun
JQ
Zhang
Zeng-Qiang
ZQ
Wang
Lu-Ning
LN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002681:China; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077265:Donepezil; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil