THE IMPACT OF VALIDATION GROUP-THERAPY ON NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS WITHDEMENTIA

This study examined the effectiveness of validation group therapy for reducing problem behaviors, use of physical restraints and use of psyc hotropic medications, and for increasing positive social interactions and psychosocial well-being in nursing home residents with dementia. I n four skilled-care nursing homes, 88 residents with dementia were ran domly assigned to a group receiving validation therapy (VT) a social c ontact (SC) group, or a usual care (UC) control group, and were assess ed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year The nursing staff reported that V T participants showed less physically and verbally aggressive behavior and were nor as depressed ar residents in the SC or UC group. VT was not effective, however; in reducing the use of physical restraints or the use of psychotropic medications, and it war less effective than SC or UC in reducing physically nonaggressive problem behaviors.