TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2001//
TI  - Reality orientation therapy to delay outcomes of progression in patients with dementia. A retrospective study
JO  - Clinical rehabilitation
A1  - Metitieri, T.
A1  - Zanetti, O.
A1  - Geroldi, C.
A1  - Frisoni, G. B.
A1  - De Leo, D.
A1  - Dello Buono, M.
A1  - Bianchetti, A.
A1  - Trabucchi, M.
SP  - 471
EP  - 478
VL  - 15
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of continued Reality Orientation Therapy (ROT) in delaying the outcomes of dementia progression. <br><br>DESIGN: Retrospective study. Data collection was based on review of clinical charts and on telephone interviews performed with patients or primary caregivers. SETTING: Day hospital of the Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Brescia (Italy). SUBJECTS: Seventy-four patients enrolled in at least one cycle of ROT from 1994 to 1998 were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Rehabilitative intervention based on formal ROT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This study analysed the time to the occurrence of any of the following: cognitive decline on Mini-Mental State Examination scores, urinary incontinence as an index of functional decline, institutionalization, and death. <br><br>RESULTS: Data on a 30-month period after the first ROT session were analysed. We compared 46 patients (treatment group) who completed from 2 to 10 ROT cycles (corresponding to 8-40 weeks of training; mean = 15.48) with 28 patients (control group) who completed only one ROT cycle (4 weeks). Treatment group showed higher estimated survival rates than control group on cognitive decline (p = 0.022) and institutionalization (p = 0.002). The relative risks for cognitive decline and institutionalization in the control group compared with treatment group were 0.60 (p = 0.014), and 0.42 (p = 0.021), respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Continued ROT classes during the early to middle stages of dementia may delay nursing home placement and slow down the progression of cognitive decline.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0269-2155
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -