A comparison of intensive individualised behavioural support and traditional medical treatment for the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

The project aims to investigate the most effective and efficient ways of providing treatment to patients with dementia and BPSD. The research team has previously carried out a preliminary pilot project, which suggested that intensive individualised behavioural interventions had beneficial effects in terms of reducing problem behaviours. However, there was no control or comparison groups, making it difficult to associate the reduction of behavioural problems with the psychosocial interventions, with any certainty. The research team propose to contribute to research in this area by carrying out a group comparison study, comparing intensive indivdualised behavioural interventions with traditional medical treatment. Participants will all be patients referred to Eastern Health's Behaviour Support Team (BST) from aged care facilities with dementia and BPSD, where consent for participation has been given by next of kin. Information regarding the participants' behaviours, cognition, mental state, use of medications and medical services will be collected via observation, interview and questionnaires, involving both participants and their carers. Carers will also complete questionnaires regarding their perceptions of caring for participants. This information will be collected at baseline, post intervention and at 6-month follow-up. This information will serve as outcome data. The two treatment conditions have been described earlier in this application. At the present time, there is no RCT evidence to support the efficacy of intensive behavioural programmes with this population, for these behavioural issues. It is anticipated that evidence regarding efficacy provided by this research would then be used to support proposals to increase resources to provide these interventions more widely.