Psychosocial treatment for demented patients: Overview of methods and effects

In this chapter an overview is presented of the various types of psychosocial treatment used for demented patients during the last twenty years: psychotherapy, psychomotor therapy, behaviour modification, remotivation and resocialization therapy, reminiscence therapy, reality orientation training, activity groups, validation, and normalization of living patterns and living environment. We will address the theoretical backgrounds, the most common methods in psychogeriatric practice and the results achieved with these types of treatment. The term 'psychosocial treatment' is limited here to include only those types of treatment that focus explicitly on psychical and social problems that demented patients can experience during the dementing process, or the prevention of those problems. Only treatments that utilize interactive methods are described - psychopharmaco therapy is not discussed here.