Efficacy of therapeutic recreation interventions on agitation and apathy in dementia: A review of the literature

This literature review explores the efficacy of therapeutic recreation interventions (TRIs) on the behavioral symptoms of agitation and apathy in dementia. Agitation, apathy and TRIs are reviewed from a Need-driven Dementia-compromised (NDB) theory perspective. The NDB model conceptualizes that agitation and apathy are caused by underlying unmet needs. NDB-derived TRIs that matched a subject's interest, cognitive, and physical skill levels resulted in a significant decrease in agitation and apathy and increase in active engagement in the activity. TRIs should be considered prior to pharmacological approaches in treating the behavioral symptoms of agitation and apathy in dementia.;Keywords. Therapeutic recreation intervention, agitation, apathy, dementia, need-driven dementia-compromised behavior model.