Interventions targeting pain or behaviour in dementia: A systematic review

• Published in: Ageing research reviews 2013-09, Vol.12 (4), p.1042-1055
• Main Authors: Pieper, Marjoleine J.C, van Dalen-Kok, Annelore H, Francke, Anneke L, van der Steen, Jenny T, Scherder, Erik J.A, Husebø, Bettina S, Achterberg, Wilco P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics - administration & dosage; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Catastrophization - diagnosis; Catastrophization - psychology; Catastrophization - therapy; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia - diagnosis; Dementia - psychology; Dementia - therapy; Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Neurology; Pain - diagnosis; Pain - psychology; Pain Management - methods; Pain Management - psychology; Pain Measurement - methods; Pain Measurement - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - methods; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 1568-1637; 1872-9649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.05.002

Highlights • Pain interventions targeting behaviour and behavioural interventions targeting pain are effective in reducing pain/discomfort, and behavioural symptoms, such as depression, agitation/aggression and anxiety, in dementia. • Evidence is limited and interventions and outcomes are heterogeneous. Replication of the results is warranted and more large-scaled research into these complex interventions is desperately needed. • This is the first systematic review that has combined the effectiveness of interventions targeting both pain and behaviour in dementia.