Efficacy of recreational and occupational activities associated to psychological support in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a multicenter controlled study

We evaluated the efficacy of a stimulation program mainly based on recreational and occupational activities, associated with a brief cycle of support psychotherapy for patients and caregivers, in mild to moderate Alzheimer Disease (AD) associated or not with cerebrovascular lesions. Sixty-seven patients and 31 controls from 2 Italian towns entered the study. The control group was comprised of AD subjects who voluntarily declined to participate in the program for practical reasons. Patients were divided in groups of 4 subjects: treatment was delivered for 6 weeks. Multidimensional efficacy assessment of functional, behavioral, and neuropsychologic aspects was performed. When comparing baseline with posttraining condition, patients displayed a substantial reduction in disruptive behavior, and a tendency to a general reduction of behavioral symptoms compared with controls (Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist--RMBPC--symptoms frequency-total P=0.07; frequency of disruptive behavior P=0.008). This reduction was mirrored by a significant reduction of caregiver reaction to behavioral disturbances (RMBPC caregiver reaction-total P=0.035; reaction to disruptive behavior, P=0.011). At 3 months follow-up, the reduction of caregiver reaction to behavioral symptoms results was confirmed (RMBPC caregiver reaction-total P=0.014, caregiver reaction to disruptive behavior P=0.028). No other significant difference was detected. These results partially confirm findings of previous studies, showing that AD patients treated with similar techniques demonstrated an improvement in behavioral disturbances.