title: Systematic review of systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions to treat behavioural disturbances in older patients with dementia. The SENATOR-OnTop series.
abstract: To provide an overview of non-pharmacological interventions for behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD).
  
  
  
  Systematic overview of reviews.
  
  
  
  PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL and PsycINFO (2009-March 2015).
  
  
  
  Systematic reviews (SRs) that included at least one comparative study evaluating any non-pharmacological intervention, to treat BPSD.
  
  
  
  Eligible studies were selected and data extracted independently by 2 reviewers.The AMSTAR checklist was used to assess the quality of the SRs.
  
  
  
  Extracted data were synthesised using a narrative approach.
  
  
  
  38 SRs and 129 primary studies were identified, comprising the following categories of non-pharmacological interventions: (1) sensory stimulation interventions (25 SRs, 66 primary studies) that encompassed: shiatsu and acupressure, aromatherapy, massage/touch therapy, light therapy, sensory garden and horticultural activities, music/dance therapy, dance therapy, snoezelen multisensory stimulation therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; (2) cognitive/emotion-oriented interventions (13 SRs; 26 primary studies) that included cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, validation therapy, simulated presence therapy; (3) behaviour management techniques (6 SRs; 22 primary studies); (4) Multicomponent interventions (3 SR; four primary studies); (5) other therapies (5 SRs, 15 primary studies) comprising exercise therapy, animal-assisted therapy, special care unit and dining room environment-based interventions.
  
  
  
  A large number of non-pharmacological interventions for BPSD were identified. The majority of the studies had great variation in how the same type of intervention was defined and applied, the follow-up duration, the type of outcome measured, usually with modest sample size. Overall, music therapy and behavioural management techniques were effective for reducing BPSD.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Geriatric Emergency Care, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS-INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Iosief
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5440-775X
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abraha
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Geriatric Emergency Care, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS-INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rimland
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Geriatric Emergency Care, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS-INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana Mirella
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Geriatric Emergency Care, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS-INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dell'Aquila
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz-Jentoft
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Geriatrics), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Adalsteinn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gudmundsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soiza
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.affiliation: 'Golgi Cenci' Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guaita
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Geriatric Emergency Care, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS-INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherubini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; BPSD; Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia; Non-pharmacological intervention