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Challenging behaviour is an issue of major concern in the nursing home sector. This American study employed experimental methodology to examine the effects of behavioural interventions. The sample of 179 nursing home residents drawn from sites in Arkansas and Maryland was randomly allocated to one of five groups. The three experimental groups consisted of an activity of daily living intervention, a psychosocial activity, and a group that combined the two. There were two control groups: one used a placebo (personal attention from a carer), while the second had no intervention. Residents were assessed using a range of recognised tools. The results indicated significantly increased positive affect in the treatment groups, but no significant reduction in the challenging behaviour. 44 references.