title: Cognitive stimulation therapy in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurology, South Building of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Yi-Xuan
authors: YX
authors: Niu
authors: Ji-Ping
authors: JP
authors: Tan
authors: Jin-Qun
authors: JQ
authors: Guan
authors: Zeng-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Lu-Ning
authors: LN
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil