Question: In adults with dementia, what is the most effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing challenging behaviour?

Answer:

No definite clinical implications can be made from the available evidence. There is some evidence to suggest that various interventions, including aromatherapy, bed baths, gentle sounds, individualized music, muscle relaxation training (please refer to original papers for specific details) - or various general types of therapy - such as sensory interventions, or functional analysis-based interventions, may be effective in reducing behaviour disturbances in people with dementia. There was also evidence to suggest that individualised treatment were effective. Almost all of the authors, however, stated that the evidence was inconclusive and that more research is needed.