Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:56:28.991Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Creative solutions for severe dementia with BPSD: a case of art therapy used in an inpatient and residential care setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2011

C. Peisah ,
G. Lawrence  and
S. Reutens
C. Peisah*
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care Psychiatry, Bankstown Hospital, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
G. Lawrence
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care Psychiatry, Bankstown Hospital, Sydney, Australia
S. Reutens
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care Psychiatry, Bankstown Hospital, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Carmelle Peisah, Suite 30, Level 1, 26 Cross Street, Double Bay NSW 2028, Australia. Phone: +61-2-93628127; Fax: 61-2-98808462. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common, distressing and compromise care. Their diverse etiology necessitates targeted, individualized treatment. We present a case of an 82-year-old with severe dementia and BPSD, and with limited response to a range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Individualized art therapy was developed in an inpatient setting using felt material cut into shapes and coloring with stencils and pre-drawn line drawings utilizing preserved skills of coloring, while supporting frontal-executive and language deficits. The activity was replicable and carried over to the residential care setting and supported by family and professional carers.

Type
Case Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 6 , August 2011 , pp. 1011 - 1013
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cohen-Mansfield, J., Thein, K., Dakheel-Ali, M. and Marx, M. S. (2010). Engaging nursing home residents with dementia in activities: the effects of modeling, presentation order, time of day, and setting characteristics. Ageing and Mental Health, 14, 471–480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cummings, J. L., Miller, B. L., Christensen, D. D. and Cherry, D. (2008). Creativity and dementia: emerging diagnostic and treatment methods for Alzheimer's disease CNS Spectrums, 13 (2, Suppl. 2), 1–20.Google ScholarPubMed
Galbraith, A., Sabrina, S. and Ross, D. (2008). Alzheimer's disease: art, creativity and the brain. In Hass-Cohen, N. and Carr, R. (eds.), Art Therapy and Neuroscience (pp. 254–267). London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Green Stewart, E. (2004). Art therapy and neuroscience blend: working with patients who have dementia. Art Therapy, 21, 148–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Innes, A. and Hatfield, K. (2001). Healing Arts Therapies and Person-Centred Dementia Care. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Miller, B. L. and Hou, C. E. (2004). Portraits of artists: emergence of visual creativity in dementia. Archives of Neurology, 61, 842–844.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Connor, D., Ames, D., Gardner, B. and King, M. (2009). Psychosocial treatment of behavioral symptoms in dementia: a systematic review of reports meeting quality standards. International Psychogeriatrics, 21, 225–240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Treloar, A. et al. (2010). Ethical dilemmas: should antipsychotics ever be prescribed for people with dementia? British Journal of Psychiatry, 197, 88–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed