Ipsit V Vahia1, Rujvi Kamat2, Cheng Vang2, Carolina Posada3, Lisa Ross2, Sarah Oreck4, Alok Bhatt5, Colin Depp6, Dilip V Jeste6, Daniel D Sewell6. 1. Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Boston, MA; Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA. Electronic address: ivahia@partners.org. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA. 3. Department of Psychology, Institute for Living, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY. 5. Department of Medicine, Louisville University, Louisville, KY. 6. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA; Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, safety, and utility of tablet devices as novel nonpharmacologic tools in managing older psychiatric inpatients with agitation and dementia. METHODS: Thirty-six patients at a geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit were provided with tablets when agitated and used various apps on the tablet related to communication, games, music, web browser, and photography during their stay. Study staff documented the frequency, duration, and app usage history and rated the extent to which agitation improved after tablet use. RESULTS: All participants, regardless of dementia severity, were able to use apps and were rated by staff to have clinical benefit. Dementia severity was negatively associated with app complexity. Age was negatively associated with frequency and duration of tablet use. CONCLUSION: Tablet use as a nonpharmacologic intervention for agitation in older adults, including those with severe dementia, appears to be feasible, safe, and of potential utility.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, safety, and utility of tablet devices as novel nonpharmacologic tools in managing older psychiatric inpatients with agitation and dementia. METHODS: Thirty-six patients at a geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit were provided with tablets when agitated and used various apps on the tablet related to communication, games, music, web browser, and photography during their stay. Study staff documented the frequency, duration, and app usage history and rated the extent to which agitation improved after tablet use. RESULTS: All participants, regardless of dementia severity, were able to use apps and were rated by staff to have clinical benefit. Dementia severity was negatively associated with app complexity. Age was negatively associated with frequency and duration of tablet use. CONCLUSION: Tablet use as a nonpharmacologic intervention for agitation in older adults, including those with severe dementia, appears to be feasible, safe, and of potential utility.
Authors: Daniel R Bateman; Bhavana Srinivas; Thomas W Emmett; Titus K Schleyer; Richard J Holden; Hugh C Hendrie; Christopher M Callahan Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2017-08-30 Impact factor: 5.428