title: Comparing the Effects of Cognitive Stimulation, Reminiscence, and Aroma-Massage on Agitation and Depressive Mood in People With Dementia.
abstract: Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST), reminiscence therapy (RT), and aroma-massage therapy (AT) are believed to be beneficial for people with dementia (PwD). However, the comparing effects of these interventions have not been reported in previous studies. The purpose of this research was thus to compare the effects of these 3 interventions on alleviating agitation and depressive mood in PwD.
  
  
  
  A cohort study with pre- and post-tests was conducted.
  
  
  
  A total of 102 PwD from 10 long-term care facilities were allocated to RT (n = 43), CST (n = 29), or AT (n = 29) groups. The participants received the interventions once a week for 8 to 10 consecutive weeks. The participants were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia before and shortly after the intervention. One-way ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  
  Significant differences in the effects on agitation and depressive symptoms in PwD were found among the 3 interventions (P = .013 and P < .001, respectively). Post hoc analysis showed that AT was more effective than RT and CST in improving agitated behaviors (P = .006 and P < .001, respectively), and was also more effective than CST and RT in alleviating depressive symptoms (both P < .001).
  
  
  
  Our findings indicate that among the 3 alternative remedies, AT can be a more effective intervention than CST and RT with regard to alleviating the agitated behavior and depressive symptoms of PwD. Given that agitated behavior and depressive mood are common among institutionalized PwD, and staff working in long-term care facilities often lack knowledge and time to manage such behaviors, the findings of this study can contribute to future clinical practice in long-term care facilities. In addition, aroma-massage has the advantage of being an easy-to-learn intervention for staff working with PwD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Science, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Feng-Ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontological and Long-term Care Business, College of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hui-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Yuh-lng Junior College of Health Care & Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Fang-Yu
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Science, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: ns127@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jing-Jy
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019341:Aromatherapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cognitive stimulation; aroma-massage; dementia; reminiscence