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A randomized, controlled, clinical trial of activity therapy for apathy in patients with dementia residing in long-term care
Politis AM, Vozzella S, Mayer LS, Onyike CU, Baker AS, Lyketsos CG.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2004-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Apathy is a common symptom in patients with dementia and has adverse consequences for patients and caregivers. Most treatments for apathy, particularly non-pharmacologic interventions, have not been evaluated in controlled trials. Objectives This study evaluated the efficacy of a kit-based activity intervention, compared to a time and attention control (one-on-one meetings with an activity therapist) in reducing apathy and improving quality of life in 37 patients with dementia. Methods The design was a randomized, controlled, partially masked clinical trial. All outcome measures were administered at baseline and follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the apathy score of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Other outcome measures were the NPI total score, the Alzheimer Disease Related Quality of Life scale(ADQRL), and the Copper Ridge Activity Index (CRAI). Results There was a significant reduction in NPI apathy scores in both treatment groups. The only significant difference between the two treatment groups was a modest advantage for the control intervention on the CRAI cueing subscale (p = 0.027), but not on the other CRAI subscales. There was also a greater within group improvement in quality of life ratings in the control intervention (p=0.03). Conclusions Despite the substantial improvement in apathy scores during the course of the study, there was no clear advantage to the reminiscence-based intervention over the time and attention, one-on-one control intervention. More research is needed to develop specific behavioral interventions for apathy in patients with dementia.
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APA 7th
Politis, A. M., Vozzella, S., Mayer, L. S., Onyike, C. U., Baker, A. S., & Lyketsos, C. G. (2004). A randomized, controlled, clinical trial of activity therapy for apathy in patients with dementia residing in long-term care. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1215
Vancouver
Politis AM, Vozzella S, Mayer LS, Onyike CU, Baker AS, Lyketsos CG. A randomized, controlled, clinical trial of activity therapy for apathy in patients with dementia residing in long-term care. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2004. doi:10.1002/gps.1215. PMID: 15481065.
BibTeX
@article{politis2004-15481065,
author = {Politis, A. M. and Vozzella, S. and Mayer, L. S. and Onyike, C. U. and Baker, A. S. and Lyketsos, C. G.},
title = {{A randomized, controlled, clinical trial of activity therapy for apathy in patients with dementia residing in long-term care}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1002/gps.1215},
pmid = {15481065},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1215}
}
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Key findings
- Objectives This study evaluated the efficacy of a kit-based activity intervention, compared to a time and attention control (one-on-one meetings with an activity therapist) in reducing apathy and improving quality of life in 37 patients with dementia.
- Results There was a significant reduction in NPI apathy scores in both treatment groups.
- The only significant difference between the two treatment groups was a modest advantage for the control intervention on the CRAI cueing subscale (p = 0.027), but not on the other CRAI subscales.
Why it matters
In this randomized trial of 37 patients with dementia in long-term care, apathy scores fell significantly in both the kit-based activity group and the time-and-attention control group, with no clear advantage for the activity intervention. The only significant difference between groups was a modest advantage for the control intervention on one cueing subscale and on quality of life ratings.
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Study details
- Participants37
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 37 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 135 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.6 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Constantine George Lyketsos: h-index 130 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15481065) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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