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Cognitive
Stimulation Therapy Benefits Patients With Dementia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 24 -
Cognitive stimulation group therapy appears to improve both cognitive function
and quality of life for people with dementia, according to a report in the
British Journal of Psychiatry for September.Previous studies of this type of
program have been small and nonstandardized, investigators Dr. Martin Orrell, of
University College London, and colleagues note. They examined an evidence-based
program conducted in 18 residential homes and five day centers in England.
Subjects' Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ranged between 10 and 24
at baseline.The program comprised twice a week, 45-minute sessions over 7 weeks.
Therapy was geared toward reality orientation and cognitive stimulation, the
authors note, with a focus on information processing. The control group engaged
in "usual activities." Ninety-seven subjects randomized to the treatment group
were assessed at follow-up, as were 70 assigned to the control group.MMSE scores
rose by an average of 0.9 in the active treatment groups, while declining by 0.4
in the control groups, a significant difference (p = 0.044). Also improved by
therapy group involvement were the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale -
Cognition (p = 0.014) and Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease scale (p =
0.028)."The degree of benefit for cognitive function appears similar to that
attributable to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors" used for treatment of
Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Orrell and his associates write, though they also point
out that sustained benefit would probably require ongoing therapy.According to
two different analyses, the authors estimate that the number needed to treat to
achieve a favorable outcome was six or eight."The groups were popular with the
participants, and can be conducted in a variety of settings," they conclude.
British Journal of Psychiatry 2003;183,248-254.
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