Background
Both pain and challenging behaviour are highly prevalent in dementia, and multiple studies show that some of these behaviours may be correlated. Pain, especially in non-communicative patients, can cause challenging behaviour, and treatment of pain therefore may have an effect on behaviour. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions targeting pain on the outcome behaviour, and interventions targeting behaviour on pain, in dementia.
Method
PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, COCHRANE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Web of Science were searched systematically. Studies were included if they focused on an intervention targeting a reduction in the person’s distress, pain, and/or behaviour, and included adults with a main diagnosis of dementia.
Results
Of a total of 893 potentially relevant publications that were identified, 16 publications met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for further analysis; 6 studies focused on a pain intervention targeting behaviour, 1 study focused on a behavioural intervention targeting pain, and 9 studies focused on an intervention targeting both pain and behaviour.
Conclusion
Available evidence suggests that (pain) interventions targeting behaviour, and (behavioural) interventions targeting pain are effective in reducing pain and behavioural symptoms in dementia.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Overview publication
Title | Interventions targeting pain or behaviour in dementia: a systematic review. |
Date | September 1st, 2013 |
Issue name | Ageing research reviews |
Issue number | v12.4:1042-55 |
DOI | 10.1016/j.arr.2013.05.002 |
PubMed | 23727161 |
Authors | |
Keywords | Behavior, Dementia, Neuropsychiatric symptoms, Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions, Pain |
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