TY - JOUR
T1 - AlzhaTV
T2 - A nonpharmacological intervention to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms in nursing home dementia patients
AU - Varshney, Smita U.
AU - Varshney, Juhi U.
AU - Tampi, Rajesh R.
AU - McCall, William V.
AU - Varshney, Upkar
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Currently, 5 million seniors who reside in the community or assisted living or nursing facilities are affected by Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive disorders. They experience various psychiatric symptoms. Also, their family members are stressed from caregiving, and may feel guilty for not doing more. METHODS: We created an innovative nonpharmacological intervention, AlzhaTV, to decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with neurocognitive disorders. We offered AlzhaTV to 9 nursing home patients. RESULTS: In our retrospective examination of this case series, we found AlzhaTV was effective in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with neurocognitive disorders. We achieved either dose reductions, discontinuation, or avoided initiating the use of antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines in nearly all patients. CONCLUSIONS: AlzhaTV may help decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and decrease or avoid the use of antipsychotic medications or benzodiazepines. It may help in reducing the overall cost of health care in patients with dementia or neurocognitive disorders. AlzhaTV helps patients stay connected to their families, friends, and their past while bringing them joy in the present. It also helps families and caregivers feel more connected and less helpless.
AB - BACKGROUND: Currently, 5 million seniors who reside in the community or assisted living or nursing facilities are affected by Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive disorders. They experience various psychiatric symptoms. Also, their family members are stressed from caregiving, and may feel guilty for not doing more. METHODS: We created an innovative nonpharmacological intervention, AlzhaTV, to decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with neurocognitive disorders. We offered AlzhaTV to 9 nursing home patients. RESULTS: In our retrospective examination of this case series, we found AlzhaTV was effective in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with neurocognitive disorders. We achieved either dose reductions, discontinuation, or avoided initiating the use of antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines in nearly all patients. CONCLUSIONS: AlzhaTV may help decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and decrease or avoid the use of antipsychotic medications or benzodiazepines. It may help in reducing the overall cost of health care in patients with dementia or neurocognitive disorders. AlzhaTV helps patients stay connected to their families, friends, and their past while bringing them joy in the present. It also helps families and caregivers feel more connected and less helpless.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074003934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85074003934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 29697713
AN - SCOPUS:85074003934
SN - 1040-1237
VL - 30
SP - 122
EP - 132
JO - Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists
JF - Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists
IS - 2
ER -
