Reminiscence therapy for dementia: an abridged Cochrane systematic review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a popular psychosocial intervention widely used in dementia care. It involves discussion of past events and experiences, using tangible prompts to evoke memories or stimulate conversation.

Areas covered: The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of RT for people with dementia. It includes studies from the specialized register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (ALOIS). Searches yielded 185 records of which 22 (n = 1972) were eligible for inclusion. The meta-analysis comprised of data from 16 studies (n = 1749 participants). The review included four large multicenter high-quality studies and several smaller studies of reasonable quality. Outcomes of interest were quality of life, communication, depression, and cognition at posttreatment and later follow-up.

Expert commentary: RT has the potential to improve psychosocial outcomes for people with dementia. Effects are small and can be inconsistent, varying across intervention modality and setting. Individual approaches were associated with improved cognition and mood. Group approaches were linked to improved communication. The impact on quality of life appeared most promising in care home settings. Diversity in reminiscence approaches makes it difficult to compare them, and the field would benefit from the development, evaluation, use, and sharing of standardized approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Reminiscence therapy
• dementia
• Alzheimer’s
• psychosocial
• life review
• non-pharmacological

Acknowledgments

This review is published as a Cochrane Review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 3. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to comments and criticisms, and should be consulted for the most recent version of the review. The authors thank Sue Marcus, Jenny McCleery, and Anna Noel-Storr of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group for their assistance and support. The authors would also like to thank the authors who provided us with additional data or clarification regarding their studies.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

L O’ Philbin is supported by a KESS 2 (European Social Fund: Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship) PhD studentship [80815].