Background: Doll therapy (DT) is a non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). We designed a single-blind randomized controlled trial of the 30-day efficacy of DT in reducing the BPSD, professional caregivers' distress and patients' biomarkers of stress, and in improving the exploration and caregiving behaviours. Methods: We randomly assigned 134 women with moderate-to-severe dementia living in nursing homes (NHs) to a DT intervention (DTI, 67) or a sham intervention with a cube (SI, 67). Results: From the first to the 30th session, the DTI group showed a significant decrease in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-NH (NPI-NH) total score and in the NPI-NH-Distress score compared to the SI group (both p < 0.001). We observed a greater interest in the doll than in the cube, a greater acceptance of a separation from the nurse among DTI participants, and caregiving and exploratory behaviours towards the doll. There were no differences between the groups in the stress biomarkers. Conclusions: Consistent with attachment theory, our findings support the 30-day efficacy of DT, as this non-pharmacological intervention promotes perceptions of security by creating a situation in which patients feel confident and engaged in a caregiving relationship with the doll and reduces the challenging behaviours that are stressful for professional caregivers.

Molteni, V., Vaccaro, R., Ballabio, R., Ceppi, L., Cantù, M., Ardito, R., et al. (2022). Doll Therapy Intervention Reduces Challenging Behaviours of Women with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: Results from a Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE, 11(21) [10.3390/jcm11216262].

Doll Therapy Intervention Reduces Challenging Behaviours of Women with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: Results from a Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial

Ceppi, Laura;
2022

Abstract

Background: Doll therapy (DT) is a non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). We designed a single-blind randomized controlled trial of the 30-day efficacy of DT in reducing the BPSD, professional caregivers' distress and patients' biomarkers of stress, and in improving the exploration and caregiving behaviours. Methods: We randomly assigned 134 women with moderate-to-severe dementia living in nursing homes (NHs) to a DT intervention (DTI, 67) or a sham intervention with a cube (SI, 67). Results: From the first to the 30th session, the DTI group showed a significant decrease in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-NH (NPI-NH) total score and in the NPI-NH-Distress score compared to the SI group (both p < 0.001). We observed a greater interest in the doll than in the cube, a greater acceptance of a separation from the nurse among DTI participants, and caregiving and exploratory behaviours towards the doll. There were no differences between the groups in the stress biomarkers. Conclusions: Consistent with attachment theory, our findings support the 30-day efficacy of DT, as this non-pharmacological intervention promotes perceptions of security by creating a situation in which patients feel confident and engaged in a caregiving relationship with the doll and reduces the challenging behaviours that are stressful for professional caregivers.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
attachment; biomarkers of stress; caregivers; challenging behaviours; dementia; doll therapy; non-pharmacological therapies;
English
24-ott-2022
2022
11
21
6262
open
Molteni, V., Vaccaro, R., Ballabio, R., Ceppi, L., Cantù, M., Ardito, R., et al. (2022). Doll Therapy Intervention Reduces Challenging Behaviours of Women with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: Results from a Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE, 11(21) [10.3390/jcm11216262].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/425418
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