Application of Community Based Group Validation Therapy for DEMENTIA PATIENTS in Korea: A Pilot Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a Community Based Group Validation Therapy developed to promote behavioral and emotional outcomes in community-dwelling demen-tia patients in Korea. Method: A multi-center nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design was used to measure the ef-fect of the program on the mental and behavioral symptoms of dementia patients. Twenty-four individuals participated in a Validation Therapy program for 10 weeks, attending 10 sessions of approximately 50 minutes each. The effects were evaluated through pre-and posttest tests that examined the level of depression, emo-tional status, behavioral problems, and cognitive function. Independent t tests and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to examine the effectiveness of the program. Results: A statistically significant reduction in depression was found among participants. However, no signif-icant changes in emotional state, behavioral problems, and cognitive function were revealed. Conclusion: The validation therapy was found to reduce symptoms of depression in older adults with de-mentia. It can therefore be considered as a program that could improve quality of life in this population.