Cognitive stimulation in patients with dementia: randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores the effective outcomes of a structured cognitive stimulation treatment to improve cognition and behavioral symptoms in people with dementia (PWDs), using a randomized controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
THIRTY PWDS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS: experimental (treated with cognitive stimulation), placebo (treated with occupational therapy), and control (continuing with the usual activities of the nursing home). Assessment, at baseline and after a period of 8 weeks, was performed using the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, activities of daily living, Mini-Mental State Examination, Esame Neuropsicologico Breve 2, Geriatric Depression Scale and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Scale.


RESULTS
Only the experimental group improved its performance in cognitive tests (p < 0.05) and showed a significant decrease in behavioral symptoms (p < 0.01) after the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a cognitive stimulation treatment for PWDs would improve not only their cognition, but also behavioral symptoms.
Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Daniela
D
Mapelli
Elisa
E
Di Rosa
Rosaria
R
Nocita
Donatella
D
Sava
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia; Cognitive stimulation treatment; Nonpharmacological therapies