scholarly journals Developing a Virtual Reality for People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Based on Their Psychological Needs: A Feasibility Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Hee Kim ◽  
Seonmin Park ◽  
Hyeongji Lim

Abstract BackgroundPurpose of this study was to develop a virtual reality (VR) intervention program based on the psychological needs of patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment residing in nursing facilities in Korea to relieve their behavioral and psychological symptoms, and to confirm the possibility of utilizing VR in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.MethodsIn the first phase, surveys and questionnaires were used to identify activities that relieved the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among patients. These activities were classified into five types of psychological needs. In the second phase, a fully immersive, interactive, easy-to-use VR platform was developed that reflected these psychological needs. The VR content was used with patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The researchers assessed the level of the participants’ immersion, preference, and interaction with the VR, using a 5-point Likert scale. ResultsIn the feasibility test, the mean immersion score was 4.93 ± 0.16 points, the mean preference score was 4.35 ± 0.41 points, and the mean interaction score was 3.84 ± 0.43 points. Six out of 10 participants required assistance while using the VR. The mean VR experience duration was 10.00 ± 3.46 minutes.ConclusionsThe VR-based intervention program that was developed to reduce BPSD was feasible for the participants, and provided them with a high degree of satisfaction and immersion. Furthermore, this study also confirmed the convenience and safety of the program. These findings provide evidence for the potential of VR to provide BPSD intervention programs for patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and potentially for other geriatric conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Hee Kim ◽  
Seonmin Park ◽  
Hyeongji Lim

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was (1) to develop a virtual reality (VR) intervention program based on the psychological needs of patients residing in nursing facilities in South Korea to alleviate their behavioral and psychological symptoms and (2) to confirm the possibility of utilizing VR in patients with dementia. Methods In the first phase, patients with dementia residing in nursing homes and experiencing behavioral and psychological symptoms were recruited. Surveys and questionnaires were used to identify activities that alleviated the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among the patients. These activities were classified into five types of psychological needs. In the second phase, a fully immersive, interactive, easy-to-use VR platform was developed that reflected these psychological needs. Patients with dementia experienced the VR content. The researchers assessed the level of the participants’ immersion, preference, and interaction with the VR using a 5-point Likert scale. Results In the feasibility test, 10 nursing home residents were recruited. The mean immersion score was 4.93 ± 0.16 points, the mean preference score was 4.35 ± 0.41 points, and the mean interaction score was 3.84 ± 0.43 points using a 5-point Likert scale. Higher mean scores indicated a more positive outcome. Six of the 10 participants required assistance while using the VR. The mean VR experience duration was 10.00 ± 3.46 min. Conclusions The VR-based intervention program that was developed to reduce BPSD was feasible for the participants and provided them with a high degree of satisfaction and immersion. Furthermore, this study also confirmed the convenience and safety of the program. These findings support the potential use of VR-based BPSD intervention programs to treat patients with dementia.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1616-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Lövheim ◽  
Yngve Gustafson ◽  
Stig Karlsson ◽  
Per-Olof Sandman

ABSTRACTBackground: Behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as verbal or physical aggression, aberrant motor behaviors, psychotic symptoms, anxiety, depressive symptoms and apathy are common among people with dementia. The aim of the present study was to compare the one-week prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms and psychotropic drug treatment among people with cognitive impairment living in institutional care, in two large, comparable samples from 2000 and 2007.Methods: A comparison was made between two cross-sectional samples, collected in 2000 and 2007, comprising 4054 participants with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden. The Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS) was used to assess cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms. The use of psychotropic drugs was recorded.Results: Between 2000 and 2007, 15 out of 39 behavioral or psychological symptoms had become less common and no symptoms had become more common, after controlling for demographic changes. Four out of six behaviors within the cluster of aggressive behaviors had declined in prevalence. Patients prescribed anti-dementia drugs increased from 5.1% to 18.0% and antidepressant drug use increased from 43.2% to 49.1%, while anxiolytic, hypnotic, sedative and antipsychotic drug use remained largely unchanged.Conclusion: The prevalence of many behavioral symptoms had declined from 2000 to 2007, and among these changes, the decline in aggressive behaviors probably has the greatest clinical impact.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2097-2098
Author(s):  
Vikas Dhikav ◽  
Mansi Sethi ◽  
Pinki Mishra ◽  
Kuljeet Singh Anand

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are common in dementias but is a relatively new entity described in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The International Psychogeriatric Association Consensus Group defines BPSD as “symptoms of disturbed perception, thought content, mood or behavior” (Coen et al., 1997). The present study was aimed at assessing the frequency of the same in patients with MCI.


2022 ◽  
pp. 115-140
Author(s):  
Tiago Coelho

Dementia is characterized by significant cognitive deterioration, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and expanding disability. The well-being of people with dementia is influenced by the support provided by caregivers and health professionals. Especially in the past two decades, advancements in digital technology have helped reshape the way care and treatment are delivered. The main goal of the chapter is to describe technological solutions aimed at supporting the independence and safe participation of people with dementia in meaningful activities, as well as promoting their involvement in engaging experiences that seek to delay cognitive decline and diminish behavioral and psychological symptoms. These technologies include distributed systems, robotics, wearable devices, application software, and virtual reality.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Yamagami ◽  
Kazuhiro Harada ◽  
Hiroyuki Hashidate ◽  
Yasuyoshi Asakawa ◽  
Kenji Nihei ◽  
...  

Background: The objectives of this study are to clarify the differences between the difficulties in daily life experienced by patients with both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic disease and those experienced by healthy elderly individuals. Methods: We assessed (a) cognitive function; (b) gait ability; (c) behavioral and psychological symptoms (observed at home); (d) activities of daily living (observed at home); (e) family caregiver burden, and (f) intention to continue family caregiving of 255 cognitively normal and 103 MCI subjects attending adult day care services covered by long-term care insurance, and compared the two groups. Results: Subjects with MCI display more behavioral and psychological symptoms than cognitively normal subjects, posing a heavy caregiver burden (p < 0.01). Behavioral and psychological symptoms most commonly observed in subjects with MCI are apathy, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, and aberrant motor behavior. Conclusion: Information regarding the behavioral and psychological symptoms displayed at home by patients with MCI can only be obtained from family caregivers living with the patients. To provide early-stage support for elderly patients with MCI, adult day care workers should collect information from family caregivers regarding behavioral and psychological symptoms observed at home.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Lövheim ◽  
Per-Olof Sandman ◽  
Kristina Kallin ◽  
Stig Karlsson ◽  
Yngve Gustafson

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) commonly occur among cognitively impaired people in geriatric care. BPSD are often managed with antipsychotic drugs, despite the associated serious health risks. The aim of the present study was to discover factors associated with the use of antipsychotics.Methods: A cross-sectional study in all geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden, which included 2017 residents aged 65 years and over with cognitive impairment (mean age was 83.5 years). Data were collected from prescription records and observations made by care staff of BPSD among residents during the preceding week. A multivariate regression model was con-structed to find factors independently associated with antipsychotic drug use.Results: Eleven factors were independently associated with the use of antipsychotics. Aggressive, verbally disruptive and wandering behavior, hallucinatory and depressive symptoms, male sex, living in a group dwelling for people with dementia, imposed mental workload, the ability to rise from a chair, activities of daily living (ADL) dependency and lower age all correlated significantly.Conclusions: Antipsychotic drug treatment of old people with cognitive impairment in geriatric care is common, and determined not only by the patient's symptoms but also by factors related more closely to the caregiver and the caring situation. These findings raise important questions about the indications for drug treatment in relation to the patient's quality of life.


Author(s):  
Susana Lígia da Silva RODRIGUES ◽  
Jamily Matias da SILVA ◽  
Maria Clara Cordeiro de OLIVEIRA ◽  
Charleny Mary Ferreira de SANTANA ◽  
Kaliandra Meneses CARVALHO ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Elderly people with dementia may exhibit behavioral and psychological symptoms throughout the course of disease. Non-pharmacological therapies, such as regular physical activity, are considered strategies for managing these symptoms. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether participation in physical exercise programs is effective in reducing behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods: A literature review was carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), SciELO, Web of Science, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases from 2010 to 2020. The eligible studies were randomized clinical trials involving elderly people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and assessing changes in neuropsychiatric and psychological symptoms as primary or secondary outcomes. The studies had a group with only physical exercise as an intervention compared to a control group. Results: Of 175 publications identified in the initial survey, only 7 studies met the eligibility criteria. Four out of 7 studies demonstrated positive effects in reducing behavioral symptoms, while the others did not report differences between gains according to the type of protocol. Conclusions: Moderate to intense aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises may have a potential benefit in the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia, but studies varied in their conclusions. This review indicates the need for further intervention studies to investigate, as a primary outcome, the absolute effect of physical exercise and its impact on behavioral and psychological symptoms in elderly people with MCI dementia, especially in the early stages of the disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngeemasara Thapa ◽  
Hye Jin Park ◽  
Ja-Gyeong Yang ◽  
Haeun Son ◽  
Minwoo Jang ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the association between a virtual reality (VR) intervention program and cognitive, brain and physical functions in high-risk older adults. In a randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 68 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The MCI diagnosis was based on medical evaluations through a clinical interview conducted by a dementia specialist. Cognitive assessments were performed by neuropsychologists according to standardized methods, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and frontal cognitive function: trail making test (TMT) A & B, and symbol digit substitute test (SDST). Resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured in eyes open and eyes closed conditions for 5 minutes each, with a 19-channel wireless EEG device. The VR intervention program (3 times/week, 100 min each session) comprised four types of VR game-based content to improve the attention, memory and processing speed. Analysis of the subjects for group–time interactions revealed that the intervention group exhibited a significantly improved executive function and brain function at the resting state. Additionally, gait speed and mobility were also significantly improved between and after the follow-up. The VR-based training program improved cognitive and physical function in patients with MCI relative to controls. Encouraging patients to perform VR and game-based training may be beneficial to prevent cognitive decline.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Lövheim ◽  
Per-Olof Sandman ◽  
Stig Karlsson ◽  
Yngve Gustafson

ABSTRACTBackground: Many people with dementia exhibit some behavioral or psychological symptoms, e.g. aggressive or aberrant motor behavior, depression or hallucinations, at some time during the course of the disorder. The aim of the present study was to describe the probability of the occurrence of these symptoms of dementia in relation to the level of cognitive impairment.Methods: 3404 people with cognitive impairment were selected from two large cross-sectional surveys of those in geriatric care settings, conducted in 1982 and 2000 in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden. Symptoms were assessed using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS), subsumed with a rotated factor analysis, and investigated in relation to level of cognitive impairment, measured using the Gottfries cognitive scale.Results: The passiveness factor had an almost linear correlation to the level of cognitive impairment (r2 = 0.237). Non-linear correlations, with highest prevalences in middle-stage cognitive impairment, were found for aggressive behavior (r2 = 0.057), wandering behavior (r2 = 0.065), restless behavior (r2 = 0.143), verbally disruptive/attention-seeking behavior (r2 = 0.099), regressive/inappropriate behavior (r2 = 0.058), hallucinatory symptoms (r2 = 0.021) and depressive symptoms (r2 = 0.029).Conclusion: The relations between the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and level of cognitive impairment were non-linear, with higher prevalence rates in the middle stages of dementia, apart from the symptom of passiveness, which increased almost linearly with the severity of cognitive impairment.


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