BMJ  2006;333 (9 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7580.0-a

This week in the BMJ

Occupational therapy for dementia improves function

Community based occupational therapy for elderly patients with dementia improves daily function and reduces the burden on carers say Graff and colleagues (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39001.688843.BE). One hundred and thirty five people over 65 with mild to moderate dementia were randomised to receive 10 sessions of occupational therapy, including cognitive and behavioural interventions, over five weeks or no additional treatment. The positive effect of treatment remained significant seven weeks after the intervention ended despite patients' limited learning abilities. The number needed to treat for a clinical improvement was 1.3.

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Relevant Article

Community based occupational therapy for patients with dementia and their care givers: randomised controlled trial

Maud J L Graff, Myrra J M Vernooij-Dassen, Marjolein Thijssen, Joost Dekker, Willibrord H L Hoefnagels, and Marcel G M Olde Rikkert
BMJ 2006 333: 1196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]