None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The project aims to investigate the most effective and efficient ways of providing treatment to patients with dementia and BPSD. The research team has previously carried out a preliminary pilot project, which suggested that intensive individualised behavioural interventions had beneficial effects in terms of reducing problem behaviours. However, there was no control or comparison groups, making it difficult to associate the reduction of behavioural problems with the psychosocial interventions, with any certainty. The research team propose to contribute to research in this area by carrying out a group comparison study, comparing intensive indivdualised behavioural interventions with traditional medical treatment. Participants will all be patients referred to Eastern Health's Behaviour Support Team (BST) from aged care facilities with dementia and BPSD, where consent for participation has been given by next of kin. Information regarding the participants' behaviours, cognition, mental state, use of medications and medical services will be collected via observation, interview and questionnaires, involving both participants and their carers. Carers will also complete questionnaires regarding their perceptions of caring for participants. This information will be collected at baseline, post intervention and at 6-month follow-up. This information will serve as outcome data. The two treatment conditions have been described earlier in this application. At the present time, there is no RCT evidence to support the efficacy of intensive behavioural programmes with this population, for these behavioural issues. It is anticipated that evidence regarding efficacy provided by this research would then be used to support proposals to increase resources to provide these interventions more widely.
Interventions
Group 1 participants will receive the study intervention:- intensive individualised behavioural support. This will comprise a behavioural assessment and development of a behavioural plan, which will include interventions from at least some of the following categories: (a) Reactive strategies - strategies which provide situational management, (b) Proactive strategies - strategies such as environmental change, teaching new skills to participants or their carers, making adjustments to behavioural
Group 1 participants will receive the study intervention:- intensive individualised behavioural support. This will comprise a behavioural assessment and development of a behavioural plan, which will include interventions from at least some of the following categories: (a) Reactive strategies - strategies which provide situational management, (b) Proactive strategies - strategies such as environmental change, teaching new skills to participants or their carers, making adjustments to behavioural triggers and/or reinforcers. Participants in Group 1 will concurrently receive psychiatric assessment and treatment, as recommended by a Consultant Psychiatrist.
Sponsors
Dr Kuruvilla George, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Eastern Health's Aged Persons Mental Health Service
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Participants will all have dementia, with a score of less than 24 on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). 2.Participants will all present with at least one of the behavioural symptoms itemised on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)3. Participants will all have informed consent to participate granted by their next of kin4. Participants will all reside in an aged care residential facility (high or low care)
Exclusion criteria
1. MMSE score of 24 or above2. No behavioural symptoms itemised on the CMAI3. Informed consent not granted by next of kin4. Participant does not reside in an aged care residential facility
Outcome results
None listed