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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Aug;39(8):e6129.
doi: 10.1002/gps.6129.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions in the Management of Dementia-Related Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alice Burnand  1 , Tasmin Rookes  1 , Farah Mahmood  1 , Nathan Davies  1 , Kate Walters  1 , Stephen Orleans-Foli  2 , Madiha Sajid  3 , Victoria Vickerstaff  4 , Rachael Frost  1   5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Non-Pharmacological Interventions in the Management of Dementia-Related Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alice Burnand et al. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: As populations age globally, there is an increasing prevalence of dementia, with an estimated 153 million living with dementia by 2050. Up to 70% of people with dementia experience dementia-related psychosis (D-RP). Antipsychotic medications are associated with many adverse effects in older people. This review aims to evaluate the evidence of non-pharmacological interventions in managing D-RP.

Method: The search of Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane included randomised controlled trials that evaluated non-pharmacological interventions. Data extraction and assessment of quality were assessed independently by two researchers. Heterogenous interventions were pooled using meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 18 articles (n = 2040 participants) were included and categorised into: sensory-, activity-, cognitive- and multi-component-orientated. Meta-analyses showed no significant impact in reducing hallucinations or delusions but person-centred care, cognitive rehabilitation, music therapy, and robot pets showed promise in single studies.

Conclusions and implications: Future interventions should be developed and evaluated with a specific focus on D-RP as this was not the aim for many of the included articles.

Keywords: care home; delusions; dementia; hallucinations; interventions; non‐pharmacological; nursing home; psychosis.

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