The Use of Equine-Assisted Therapy in Patients With Aggression and Agitation Behaviors due to Moderate-to-Severe Dementia: A Case Series
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are very common, and their management remains challenging. In older people with dementia, equine-assisted therapy (EAT) may be a promising nonpharmacological intervention for the management of BPSD. Here, we present five cases of patients with...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/crps/8785490 |
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| Summary: | Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are very common, and their management remains challenging. In older people with dementia, equine-assisted therapy (EAT) may be a promising nonpharmacological intervention for the management of BPSD. Here, we present five cases of patients with agitation and aggression due to moderate-to-severe dementia. They had overall two to three sessions of EAT at a frequency of one session per week. We assessed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) score before and 1 day after the second EAT session. We observed a discrete reduction in the NPI-Q after the EAT sessions, although not all of the improvements experienced by patients, families, and carers were reflected in the NPI-Q. Future studies should be conducted to assess subjective lived experiences of EAT in patients with moderate-to-severe dementia. |
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| ISSN: | 2090-6838 |