Psychosocial interventions for people with dementia: An overview and commentary on recent developments

What is it about?

Our article provides an up-to-date overview of research into psychosocial interventions and their impact on psychosocial outcomes, focusing on 61 articles comprising randomised controlled trials, controlled studies and reviews published between October 2008 and August 2015. We found that appointment of dementia specialists and attention to case management can produce positive outcomes. Physical therapies, cognitive training and modified cognitive behaviour therapy had a range of benefits. There was limited evidence of positive benefits for people with dementia through interventions with family carers. Thirty-two articles focused on the management of ‘behavioural symptoms’ through a range of interventions all of which had some evidence of benefit. A range of multi-component and specific interventions had benefits for cognitive, emotional and behavioural well-being of people with dementia in residential settings, as well as for quality of life. Overall, interventions tended to be short term with impact only measured in the short term. We recommend further research on interventions to promote living well in the community post-diagnosis and to address end-of-life care. Development of psychosocial interventions would benefit from moving beyond the focus on control of behaviours to focus on wider aspects of life for people with dementia.

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