title: [Effects of a psychological group intervention on neuropsychiatric symptoms and communication in Alzheimer's dementia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Outcomes of a multicomponent psychological intervention designed for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms, communicative and emotional deficits in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia were evaluated in a controlled trial. Core components of the program were milieu therapy interventions and music therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 patients were involved into a pre-post design. The treatment group (n=26) received the program for 6 months, while controls (n=23) participated in standard occupational therapy. Statistical analyses included t-tests, calculation of effect sizes, and two-way analyses of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months, the treatment group showed clear, partly significant improvement of anxiety, agitation, aggression, and apathy as well as social communication, emotional competence and activity levels relative to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program has the potential to increase psychological well-being and to improve communication in patients with Alzheimer's dementia.
authors.affiliation: Gerontopsychologisches Zentrum, DRK-Seniorenzentrum Kaiserslautern, An der Feuerwache 9, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Deutschland. c.fischer-terworth@seniorenzentrum-kl.drk.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fischer-Terworth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Probst
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008884:Milieu Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome