The Effect of Snoezelen on Psychotropic Drug Use of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover if Snoezelen,an approach that provides sensory stimulation in a relaxing environment,has an effect on the level of psychotropic medication taken by nursing home residents with dementia. There were 3 groups of 22 participants in the study, each matched on Resident Classification Scale (RCS) category( 1 or 2), and age.The 'high' Snoezelen group participated in at least 3 one-to-one Snoezelen sessions per week (over the previous 4eeks), 'low' Snoezelen 1 or 2 per week, and there was a control group ('no' Snoezelen). Information on Snoezelen sessions, diagnoses and medications were obtained fiom nursing home charts. Chi-square analysis found the effect of Snoezelen on neuroleptic(antipsychotic) use significant, as a smaller percentage of the 'high' group took them. The effect on hypnotic/sedative/anxiolytic use was not significant and antidepressant use was the same for the 3 groups.Significant results were found for the effect of Snoezelen on multiple psychotropic use. A significantly larger percentage of the 'high' Sooezelen group took neither neuroleptic medication nor hypnotic/sedative/anxiolytic medication. The effectof Snoezelen on the taking of both neuroleptic and hypnotic/sedative/anxiolytic medications was significant. The percentages of participants in 'high' and 'low' Snoezelen groups taking both psychotropics were significantly smaller.