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Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2020Dementia is an increasingly common syndrome and while pharmacotherapy is available, its potential benefit is limited, especially in non-cognitive outcomes.... (Review)
Review
Dementia is an increasingly common syndrome and while pharmacotherapy is available, its potential benefit is limited, especially in non-cognitive outcomes. Non-pharmacotherapy such as music therapy is potentially associated with improved outcomes. We assessed the effects of music therapy on patients with dementia to evaluate its potential benefits on dementia. Two independent reviewers searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for clinical trials, using the keywords "music therapy" and "dementia". Study outcomes included cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and quality of life. A total of 82 studies were included, of which 43 were interventional clinical trials, and 39 were systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Significant improvements in verbal fluency occurred after music therapy, with significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and apathy. There were no significant improvements in cognition or daily functioning, and the results on quality of life and agitation were ambiguous. Limitations of studies included low patient numbers, lack of standardized music therapy, and high heterogeneity in outcomes. More large-scale clinical trials would allow for clearer conclusions on the benefits of music therapy in patients with dementia.
PubMed: 32992767
DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics5040062 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Oct 2022Depression is one of the most important non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its prevalence and related clinical characteristics are unclear. To this end,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Depression is one of the most important non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its prevalence and related clinical characteristics are unclear. To this end, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on 129 studies, including 38304 participants from 28 countries. Overall, the prevalence of depression in PD was 38 %. When compared with patients without depression, those with depression had a younger age of onset, a lower education level, longer disease duration, higher UPDRS-III, higher H&Y staging scale, and lower MMSE, SE-ADL scores. We observed that depression was associated with female patients, patients carrying the GBA1 mutation, freezing of gait (FOG), apathy, anxiety and fatigue. Our results suggest that depression is an independent, frequent non-motor symptom in PD, appearing in the early stage and persisting throughout the disease duration. In addition, several clinical characteristics and motor and non-motor symptoms appeared to be associated with depression and negatively impacted on quality of life.
Topics: Depression; Female; Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Humans; Parkinson Disease; Prevalence; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35750224
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104749 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Feb 2023Although behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are a global public health challenge, non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication technologies for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Although behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are a global public health challenge, non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication technologies can be an affordable, cost-effective, and innovative solution.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication technologies on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and identify potential moderators of intervention effects.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from May 2022. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication technologies on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were included. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed to calculate the pooled standardized mean differences between overall symptoms and each type of symptom. For moderator analyses, subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS
Sixteen trials (15 articles) met the eligibility criteria. The interventions were grouped into activity engagement interventions using digital health that provided music and reminiscence therapy, physical exercise, social interaction interventions using social robots, and telehealth-based care aid interventions that provided coaching or counseling programs. Pooled evidence demonstrated that non-pharmacological interventions using information and communication technologies exerted a large effect on depression (SMD = -1.088, 95% CI -1.983 to -0.193, p = 0.017), a moderate effect on overall behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (SMD = -0.664, 95% CI -0.990 to -0.338, p < 0.001), and agitation (SMD = -0.586, 95% CI -1.130 to -0.042, p = 0.035). No effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms (SMD = -0.251, 95% CI -0.579 to 0.077, p = 0.133), anxiety (SMD = -0.541, 95% CI -1.270 to 0.188, p = 0.146), and apathy (SMD = -0.830, 95% CI -1.835 to 0.176, p = 0.106) were reported. Moderator analyses identified the mean age of the participants as a potential moderator of intervention effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that non-pharmacological interventions, using information and communication technologies, were an applicable approach to managing behavioral and psychological symptoms among older adults with dementia, with moderate to large effect sizes. However, evidence on anxiety and apathy is inconclusive due to the limited number of existing randomized controlled trials. Future studies with subgroup analyses are warranted to conclude the most effective types of intervention using information and communication technologies for each type of symptom.
REGISTRATION
CRD42021258498.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Psychotherapy; Anxiety; Depression; Communication; Dementia
PubMed: 36434931
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104392 -
F1000Research 2020: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common and frustrating outcomes of stroke. It has a high prevalence and it can persist for many years after stroke. PSF...
: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common and frustrating outcomes of stroke. It has a high prevalence and it can persist for many years after stroke. PSF itself contributes to a wider range of undesirable outcomes that affect all aspects of daily life. The aim of this review was to identify and summarise the most recent research on PSF, in order to update the evidence base. : We updated an existing review (Hinkle . 2017) systematically searching CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed to cover new research studies between 1 March 2016 and the search date (19 January 2020). We included interventional and observational research, and clinical practice guidelines that were not covered in the original review. After duplicate removal in EndNote, two reviewers screened the search results in Rayyan, and data from eligible full texts were extracted onto an Excel spreadsheet. Finally, we used RobotReviewer and a human reviewer to assess the risk of bias of randomised trials for this scoping review. : We identified 45 records for 30 studies (14 observational, 10 interventional studies, and 6 guidelines). Apart from one, the interventional studies were single-centred, had high risk of bias and small sample size (median 50). They investigated exercise, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, education, and light therapy. Observational studies mainly reported the factors related to PSF including co-morbidities, depression and anxiety, quality of life, activities of daily living, stroke severity, medication use and polypharmacy, polymorphism, pain, apathy, limb heaviness, neuroticism, mobility, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Guidelines either did not report on PSF or, when reported, their recommendations were supported by little or low level of evidence. : Although we identified a number of recent studies which have added to our current knowledge on PSF, none are robust enough to change current clinical practice.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Quality of Life; Stroke
PubMed: 32934800
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.22880.2 -
BioMed Research International 2015Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are defined as a group of symptoms of disturbed perceptive thought content, mood, or behavior that include... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are defined as a group of symptoms of disturbed perceptive thought content, mood, or behavior that include agitation, depression, apathy, repetitive questioning, psychosis, aggression, sleep problems, and wandering. Care of patients with BPSD involves pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. We reviewed studies of nonpharmacological interventions published in the last 10 years.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review in Medline and Embase databases, in the last 10 years, until June 2015. Key words used were (1) non-pharmacological interventions, (2) behavioral symptoms, (3) psychological symptoms, and (4) dementia.
RESULTS
We included 20 studies published in this period. Among these studies, program activities were more frequent (five studies) and the symptoms more responsive to the interventions were agitation.
DISCUSSION
Studies are heterogeneous in many aspects, including size sample, intervention, and instruments of measures.
CONCLUSION
Nonpharmacological interventions are able to provide positive results in reducing symptoms of BPSD. Most studies have shown that these interventions have important and significant efficacy.
Topics: Aggression; Dementia; Depression; Humans; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Psychomotor Agitation; Psychotic Disorders
PubMed: 26693477
DOI: 10.1155/2015/218980 -
BMC Psychiatry Jan 2019Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is a non-pharmacological intervention based on the interaction between patients and dogs, which has been proposed to help adults with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is a non-pharmacological intervention based on the interaction between patients and dogs, which has been proposed to help adults with dementia. However, evidence to support it is lacking. Thus, we aim to evaluate the effects of DAT on this population and to assess the certainty of the evidence of the RCTs estimates.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental (QE) controlled studies published up to March 2018, which evaluated the beneficial and deleterious effects of DAT in adults with dementia. Mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated and random effects meta-analyses were performed. Certainty of evidence was assessed for RCTs estimates using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018090434).
RESULTS
Ten studies (six RCTs and four QE controlled studies) were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis of RCTs showed no effect of DAT in daily life activities (SMD: 0.16; 95% CI: -0.80 to 1.12), depression (SMD: -0.45; 95% CI: -2.81 to 1.91), agitation (SDM: -1.12; 95% CI: -2.67 to 0.43), quality of life (SDM: 0.16; 95% CI: -0.41 to 0.73), and cognitive impairment (SDM: -0.52; 95% CI: -1.33 to 0.30), but it found a beneficial effect in apathy (1 study, n = 37, MD: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.36). All outcomes had a very low certainty of evidence according to GRADE methodology.
CONCLUSIONS
RCTs evidence of very low certainty suggests that, in adults with dementia, DAT has no effect in daily life activities, depression, agitation, quality of life, and cognitive impairment, although one small study found an apparent beneficial effect in apathy. More well-designed and correctly reported studies are needed in order to provide a conclusion.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
CRD42018090434 (PROSPERO).
Topics: Adult; Animal Assisted Therapy; Animals; Anxiety; Cognitive Dysfunction; Dementia; Depression; Dogs; Humans; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30678665
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-018-2009-z -
International Psychogeriatrics Jun 2015There are several scales used to detect apathy in disease populations. Since apathy is a prevalent symptom in many neurodegenerative diseases, this is an especially... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There are several scales used to detect apathy in disease populations. Since apathy is a prevalent symptom in many neurodegenerative diseases, this is an especially important context in which to identify and compare scales.
AIMS
To provide an overview of apathy scales validated in generic and specific neurodegenerative disease populations, compare validation studies' methodological quality and the psychometric properties of the validated apathy scales.
METHODS
A systematic review of literature was conducted of articles published between 1980 and 2013. The final articles selected for review were rated on methodological quality and the psychometric properties of the scales used were interpreted.
RESULTS
Sixteen articles validating apathy scales were included in the review, five in a generic neurodegenerative sample and eleven in specific neurodegenerative samples. The methodological quality of specific studies varied from poor to excellent. The highest quality, which had psychometrically favorable scales, were the dementia apathy interview and rating (DAIR) and the apathy evaluation scale-clinical version (AES-C) in Alzheimer's disease and the Lille apathy rating scale (LARS) in Parkinson's disease. Generic neurodegenerative disease validation studies were of average methodological quality and yielded inconsistent psychometric properties.
CONCLUSIONS
Several instruments can be recommended for use in some specific neurodegenerative diseases. Other instruments should either be validated or developed to assess apathy in more generic populations.
Topics: Apathy; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological Tests; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 25355282
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610214002221 -
Brain Sciences Jul 2023Apathy, a frequent neuropsychiatric symptom in aging neurocognitive disorders, has been associated with cognitive decline and functional disability. Therefore, timely... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Apathy, a frequent neuropsychiatric symptom in aging neurocognitive disorders, has been associated with cognitive decline and functional disability. Therefore, timely provision of pharmacological interventions for apathy is greatly needed.
DESIGN
A systematical literature review of existing studies was conducted up to 30 May 2023 in several databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane, Google Scholar, etc.) that included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses assessing pharmacological treatments for apathy in aging neurocognitive disorders. The quality of the studies was appraised.
RESULTS
In patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, methylphenidate, and gingko biloba were proven efficacious for apathy, while rivastigmine, cognitive enhancer IRL752 and piribedil were found to be beneficial in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and agomelatine in patients with Frontotemporal Dementia (FD). The extensive proportion of RCTs in which apathy was used as a secondary outcome measure, along with the considerable methodological heterogeneity, did not allow the evaluation of group effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacological interventions for apathy in aging neurocognitive disorders are complex and under-investigated. The continuation of systematic research efforts and the provision of individualized treatment for patients suffering from these disorders is vital.
PubMed: 37508993
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071061 -
Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel,... 2013Apathy is a disturbance of motivation, frequent in survivors of stroke. Several studies have evaluated the rate of apathy secondary to stroke and risk factors. Different... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Apathy is a disturbance of motivation, frequent in survivors of stroke. Several studies have evaluated the rate of apathy secondary to stroke and risk factors. Different conclusions and contradictory findings have been published. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies evaluating apathy secondary to stroke to better estimate its rate and risk factors, and explore associations with poorer outcomes.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO and PsycBITE databases and screened references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. Search results and data extraction was performed independently. We systematically reviewed available publications reporting investigations on ischemic and intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke and apathy. Quality assessment of the studies was performed independently. Subgroup analyses were performed according to stroke phase (acute and post-acute), stroke past history (first-ever and any-stroke) and patient age (younger and older patients). Pooled odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean difference, and 95% confidence intervals (CI), were derived by random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed with I(2) test.
RESULTS
From the initial 1,399 publications, we included 19 studies (2,221 patients). The pooled rate of apathy was 36.3% (95% CI 30.3-42.8; I(2) = 46.8), which was similar for acute [39.5% (95% CI 28.9-51.1)] and post-acute phase [34.3% (95% CI 27.8-41.4)], and about three times higher than the rate of depression [12.1% (95% CI 8.2-17.3)]. Apathetic patients were on average 2.74 years older (95% CI 1.25-4.23; I(2) = 0%). No gender differences were found. Depression (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.41-3.72; I(2) = 44%) and cognitive impairment (OR 2.90; 95% CI 1.09-7.72; I(2) = 14%) were more frequent and severe in apathetic patients. Apathy rate was similar for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke type and for left- and right-sided hemispheric lesions. Clinical global outcome was similar between apathetic and nonapathetic patients.
CONCLUSION
Apathy secondary to stroke is a more frequent neuropsychiatric disturbance than depression. Apathetic patients are more frequently and severely depressed and cognitively impaired. A negative impact of apathy secondary to stroke on clinical global outcome cannot be ascribed. Future research should properly address its predictor factors and evaluate the impact of apathy treatment options in stroke patients.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apathy; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Depression; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Odds Ratio; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Young Adult
PubMed: 23428994
DOI: 10.1159/000346076 -
Neuropsychology Review Sep 2017Several brain imaging markers have been studied in the development of post-stroke depression (PSD) and post-stroke apathy (PSA), but inconsistent associations have been... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Several brain imaging markers have been studied in the development of post-stroke depression (PSD) and post-stroke apathy (PSA), but inconsistent associations have been reported. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of imaging markers associated with PSD and PSA. Databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) were searched from inception to July 21, 2016. Observational studies describing imaging markers of PSD and PSA were included. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to examine the association between PSD or PSA and stroke lesion laterality, type, and location, also stratified by study phase (acute, post-acute, chronic). Other imaging markers were reviewed qualitatively. The search retrieved 4502 studies, of which 149 studies were included in the review and 86 studies in the meta-analyses. PSD in the post-acute stroke phase was significantly associated with frontal (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.34-2.19) and basal ganglia lesions (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.33-3.84). Hemorrhagic stroke related to higher odds for PSA in the acute phase (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.18-5.65), whereas ischemic stroke related to higher odds for PSA in the post-acute phase (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.69). Frequency of PSD and PSA is modestly associated with stroke type and location and is dependent on stroke phase. These findings have to be taken into consideration for stroke rehabilitation programs, as this could prevent stroke patients from developing PSD and PSA, resulting in better clinical outcome.
Topics: Apathy; Biomarkers; Brain; Depression; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Stroke
PubMed: 28831649
DOI: 10.1007/s11065-017-9356-2