This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Metitieri, T. Articles by Trabucchi, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Metitieri, T. Articles by Trabucchi, M Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Reality Orientation Therapy to delay outcomes of progression in patients with dementia. A retrospective study

Geriatric Research Group, Brescia

Orazio Zanetti

Cristina Geroldi

Giovanni B Frisoni

Geriatric Research Group and Alzheimer's Disease Unit, IRCCS ‘Centro S. Giovanni di Dio’, Brescia

Diego De Leo

Marirosa Dello Buono

Psychogeriatric Service, University of Padova, Padova

Angelo Bianchetti

Geriatric Research Group, Brescia and ‘Ancelle della Carità’ Hospital, Cremona

M Trabucchi

Geriatric Research Group, Brescia and University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Objective: To evaluate the impact of continued Reality Orientation Therapy (ROT) in delaying the outcomes of dementia progression.

Design: Retrospective study. Data collection was based on review of clinical charts and on telephone interviews performed with patients or primary caregivers.

Setting: Day hospital of the Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Brescia (Italy).

Subjects: Seventy-four patients enrolled in at least one cycle of ROT from 1994 to 1998 were studied.

Interventions: Rehabilitative intervention based on formal ROT.

Main outcome measures: This study analysed the time to the occurrence of any of the following: cognitive decline on Mini-Mental State Examination scores, urinary incontinence as an index of functional decline, institutionalization, and death.

Results: Data on a 30-month period after the first ROT session were analysed. We compared 46 patients (treatment group) who completed from 2 to 10 ROT cycles (corresponding to 8–40 weeks of training; mean = 15.48) with 28 patients (control group) who completed only one ROT cycle (4 weeks). Treatment group showed higher estimated survival rates than control group on cognitive decline (p = 0.022) and institutionalization (p = 0.002). The relative risks for cognitive decline and institutionalization in the control group compared with treatment group were 0.60 (p = 0.014), and 0.42 (p = 0.021), respectively.

Conclusions: Continued ROT classes during the early to middle stages of dementia may delay nursing home placement and slow down the progression of cognitive decline.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Mochizuki-Kawai, M. Tanaka, T. Suzuki, Y. Yamakawa, S. Mochizuki, M. Arai, and M. Kawamura Elderly adults improve verbal fluency by videophone conversations: a pilot study J Telemed Telecare, June 1, 2008; 14(4): 215 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. D. Caudle, A. C. Senior, J. L. Wetherell, H. M. Rhoades, J. G. Beck, M. E. Kunik, A. L. Snow, N. L. Wilson, and M. A. Stanley Cognitive Errors, Symptom Severity, and Response to Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Older Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 15(8): 680 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L Tarraga, M Boada, G Modinos, A Espinosa, S Diego, A Morera, M Guitart, J Balcells, O L Lopez, and J T Becker A randomised pilot study to assess the efficacy of an interactive, multimedia tool of cognitive stimulation in Alzheimer's disease J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2006; 77(10): 1116 - 1121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Livingston, K. Johnston, C. Katona, J. Paton, C. G. Lyketsos, and Old Age Task Force of the World Federation of Biol Systematic Review of Psychological Approaches to the Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 162(11): 1996 - 2021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. ONDER, O. ZANETTI, E. GIACOBINI, G. B. FRISONI, L. BARTORELLI, G. CARBONE, P. LAMBERTUCCI, M. C. SILVERI, and R. BERNABEI Reality orientation therapy combined with cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease: randomised controlled trial The British Journal of Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 187(5): 450 - 455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]