The transitional object in dementia: clinical implications

Effect of Doll Therapy in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are a threat for people with dementia and their caregivers. Doll therapy is a non-pharmacological person-centered therapy to promote attachment, company, and usefulness with the aim of minimizing challenging behaviors. However, the results are not clear. (2) Objective: To know the effectiveness of doll therapy in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms of people with dementia at a moderate-severe phase. (3) Methodology: The systematic review was informed according to the criteria established by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were conducted in eight databases: Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Cinahl, Embase, Lilacs, PeDro, and Scopus before October 2021. Studies were selected when they accomplished the simple majority of Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). The risk of bias was appraised with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. The review protocol was recorded in Inplasy:1539. (4) Results: The initial search strategy showed 226 relevant studies, 7 of which met the eligibility criteria. In the included studies, a total number of 295 participants (79% female) with a mean age of 85 years were enrolled. There was found to be a reduction in challenging and aggressive behaviors, the participants were less rough and irritable, and their communication skills and emotional state were also improved. (5) Conclusion: Our findings suggest that doll therapy improves the emotional state of people with dementia, diminishes disruptive behaviors, and promotes communication. However, randomized studies with a larger sample size and higher methodological rigor are needed, as well as follow-up protocols in order to reaffirm these results.

Objects of safety and imprisonment: Breathless patients' use of medical objects in a palliative setting

In this article, the authors consider breathless adults with advanced non-malignant lung disease and their relationship with health objects. This issue is especially relevant now during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the experiences of breathlessness and dependence on related medical objects have sudden and global relevance. These objects include ambulatory oxygen, oxygen concentrators and inhalers, and non-pharmacological objects such as self-monitoring devices and self-management technologies. The authors consider this relationship between things and people using an interdisciplinary approach employing psychoanalytic theory (in particular Winnicott's theory of object relations and object use), Science and Technology Studies (STS) and phenomenology. This collaborative approach allows them to relate patient use of health objects to ways of thinking about the body, dependency, autonomy, safety and sense-making within the context of palliative care. The authors illustrate the theoretical discussion with three reflective vignettes from therapeutic practice and conclude by suggesting further interdisciplinary research to develop the conceptual and practice-based links between psychoanalytic theory, STS and phenomenology to better understand individual embodied experiences of breathlessness. They call for palliative care-infused, psychoanalytically informed interventions that acknowledge breathless patients' dependence on things and people, concomitant with the need for autonomy in being-towards-dying.

Re-imagining care transitions for people with dementia and complex support needs in residential aged care: using co-designed sensory objects and a focused ethnography to recognise micro transitions

The concept of transition is often used in health and lifecourse research to understand a significant movement from one state or place to another. While people with dementia experience more major transitions than their peers, they are often excluded from transitional care research. This study set out to develop meaningful transitional supports for people with dementia and complex support needs who were undertaking a significant planned geographical transition from their current residential aged care facility to a new purpose-built facility. Using the language of complex support needs acknowledges that participants in this study have a breadth and depth of need, including cognitive, physical, psycho-social and communication impairments and social and cultural disadvantage associated with ageing, institutionalisation and social isolation. To support their move, Participatory Action Research was used to support the co-creation of transitional objects (personalised scarves and blankets) with 15 people with dementia, their families and care staff. Whilst these objects were useful in supporting transition, it was not in the way we imagined. Whilst our initial focus had been on supporting a significant geographical transition, rather it was four types of micro transitions in which the transitional objects were used: small physical transitions (from one place to another); social transitions (entering or exiting personal interactions); activity transitions (moving between activities); and time travel (moving between different times). Reimagining transitions from the perspective of people with dementia and complex support needs involves the recognition of the need for supports for micro as well as macro transitions. Personalised objects to support these everyday micro transitions have the potential to make the lives of people with dementia and complex support needs more manageable, meaningful and comprehensible. Reimagining transitions in dementia in this way helps us reimagine dementia itself, as a constantly fluid, dynamic and responsive series of moments which also has implications for the re-imagination of dementia care.

Dementia: towards a perceptual control theory perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the psychosocial experiences of people living with dementia using a perceptual control theory (PCT) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual paper.

Findings

The paper suggests that people with dementia may control their perceptions by using four modes of control: control, automatic, passive observation and imagination.

Research limitations/implications

The paper highlights how a perceived sense of “too little” or “too much” control can create psychological and emotional distress, as people with dementia seek to respond to the changing contextual circumstances of their lives. However, more work needs to be done to develop specific PCT informed strategies that may serve the goal of helping people who are living with dementia to maximise their functioning and alleviate their distress.

Originality/value

The potential benefits of adopting a PCT perspective to understand the experiences of people living with dementia have only been explored in a relatively superficial way. This paper is a first attempt to develop a more considered analysis.

Therapeutic use of dolls for people living with dementia: A critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND

There are a number of therapies currently available to assist healthcare professionals and carers with non-pharmacological treatment for people living with dementia. One such therapy that has been growing in clinical practice is doll therapy. Providing dolls to some people living with dementia has the potential to enhance personal well-being through increased levels of communication and engagement with others. Despite its potential for benefits, the practice is currently under-developed in healthcare literature, probably due to varied ethical interpretations of its practice.

AIM

To undertake a critical review of the published literature on doll therapy, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist (CASP) tool, in order to determine the potential benefits and challenges of this therapy for people living with dementia.

DESIGN

A comprehensive literature search, incorporating the CINAHL, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Joanna Briggs, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO data bases, was conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite many commentaries and anecdotal accounts of the practice, this review identified only 11 empirical studies that were eligible. The majority of studies found that the use of dolls could be therapeutic for some people living with dementia by reporting increased levels of engagement, communication and reduction in episodes of distress. Some studies identified limitations to the therapy including; confusion over the ownership of the doll and healthcare professional uncertainty about issues pertaining to autonomy.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

According to this review, doll therapy has the potential to increase the well-being of some people living with dementia. This review illuminates that some healthcare professionals feel uncomfortable about its use in clinical practice. The operationalisation of doll therapy in clinical practice has been shown to be inconsistent with different approaches to the practice being advocated. This highlights the need for further empirical research to identify best practice and education to increase awareness in both healthcare professional and carer populations.

Ethical considerations of doll therapy for people with dementia

The use of doll therapy for people with dementia has been emerging in recent years. Providing a doll to someone with dementia has been associated with a number of benefits which include a reduction in episodes of distress, an increase in general well-being, improved dietary intake and higher levels of engagement with others. It could be argued that doll therapy fulfils the concepts of beneficence (facilitates the promotion of well-being) and respect for autonomy (the person with dementia can exercise their right to engage with dolls if they wish). However, some may believe that doll therapy is inappropriate when applied to the concepts of dignity (people with dementia are encouraged to interact with dolls) and non-maleficence (potential distress this therapy could cause for family members). The absence of rigorous empirical evidence and legislative guidelines render this a therapy that must be approached cautiously owing to the varied subjective interpretations of Kitwood’s ‘malignant social psychology’ and bioethics. This article suggests that by applying a ‘rights-based approach’, healthcare professionals might be better empowered to resolve any ethical tensions they may have when using doll therapy for people with dementia. In this perspective, the internationally agreed upon principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provide a legal framework that considers the person with dementia as a ‘rights holder’ and places them at the centre of any ethical dilemma. In addition, those with responsibility towards caring for people with dementia have their capacity built to respect, protect and fulfil dementia patient’s rights and needs.

An exploration into the relationships people with dementia have with physical objects: An ethnographic study

In recent years there has been increasing interest in how different aspects of object relations theory might apply to dementia. While attachment theory in dementia has been well studied, there have been no systematic investigations of the way in which transitional objects are used by people with dementia. This study explores the relationship people with dementia have with physical objects using a focussed ethnographic method. Twenty-one residents and the staff of a care home for people with dementia were observed over a two-month period. Observations were recorded and analysed in light of Winnicott’s criteria for transitional objects and incorporated the work of other key theorists. The ethnography found evidence that people with dementia have varied relationships with objects and can employ objects in a transitional way. The paper then explores the implications of this research for understanding the function of transitional objects for people with dementia. The findings suggest that that Winnicott’s theory of transitional objects can provide a framework for understanding some of the processes of dementia.