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Art therapy for people with dementia
Sunita R Deshmukh1, John Holmes, Alastair Cardno
1London, UK.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|September 15, 2018
Summary
Art therapy shows no clear benefits for dementia patients. More high-quality research is needed to determine the efficacy of art therapy for improving cognition, behavior, and quality of life in individuals with dementia.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Art therapy, a form of psychotherapy utilizing art media, is recognized for its potential in managing dementia symptoms.
- Historically, art has been integrated into therapeutic processes within psychiatric and psychological specialties.
- Arts-based therapies may help slow cognitive decline, address behavioral challenges, and enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of art therapy as an adjunctive treatment for dementia.
- To compare art therapy with standard care and other non-pharmacological interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's register and grey literature.
- Data extraction focused on outcomes related to cognition, affect, social functioning, behavior, and quality of life.
- Two independent reviewers extracted data from eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Two RCTs with a total of 60 participants met the inclusion criteria.
- Interventions included group art therapy compared with simple calculation activities or recreational activities.
- No clear changes were reported in key outcome measures between art therapy and control groups; evidence quality was rated as 'very low'.
Conclusions:
- There is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of art therapy for individuals with dementia.
- Further adequately-powered, high-quality studies with relevant outcome measures are required to establish the effectiveness of art therapy in dementia care.
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