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S2–04–02: Non–pharmacological therapies in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review of efficacy
Author(s) -
Olazarán Javier,
Clare Linda
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2006.05.096
Subject(s) - mood , randomized controlled trial , psychological intervention , medicine , physical therapy , quality of life (healthcare) , activities of daily living , clinical psychology , donepezil , dementia , disease , psychiatry , nursing
not available. S2-04-04 NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS IN DEMENTIA: A CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION. Michael Bird, NSW Greater Southern Area Health Service & Australian National University, Queanbeyan and Canberra, Australia. Contact e-mail: Mike.bird@sahs.nsw.gov.au Background: When cases come to the attention of health services, the most common method of managing disturbed behaviour in dementia remains use of psychotropic medication, most commonly anti-psychotics. In good residential care, many cases are prevented or managed by psychosocial or nursing methods, suggesting that psychotropics may often be used unnecessarily. Some authors have asserted that psychosocial approaches should always be tried first. There have also been trials comparing psychosocial methods with psychopharmacology for a mysterious syndrome which used to be called agitation and is now almost universally called BPSD. Both imply that psychosocial methods and psychopharmacological methods are in competition and that one is morally superior to the other. Objectives/Method: Three cases with apparently identical behaviour will be presented to illustrate the point that, whatever label it is given, the nature of the behaviour is only a minor variable in determining treatment choice. Conclusions: Unpicking the causes of the behaviour, the causes of why it is a problem, and determining what is possible given the situation on the ground, are much more likely to lead to a treatment regime which fits the individual needs of the patient and the environment in which care takes place. That is, the choice of treatment (psychosocial and/or pharmacological) depends on the individual case profile, not the inherent superiority of one approach over another, though the information-gathering and hypothesis testing approach does appear to lead to less use of psychotropic medication. S28 Symposia S2-04: Psychosocial / Neuropsychology