Nineteen studies were included in the review: 10 RCTs (n>650), 8 CCTs (n>336) and 1 randomised crossover study (n=16).
Apathy (2 high-quality RCTs).
There was some evidence that people with moderate to severe dementia and high-care dependency are less apathetic when remaining in a multi-sensory stimulation/Snoezelen room than when receiving activity therapy or staying in a living room.
Depression (1 high-quality RCT).
There was limited evidence that people with probable Alzheimer's disease with major or minor depressive disorder, and living at home with their caregivers, are less depressed when their informal caregivers are trained in using behavioural therapy than when their informal caregiver either receives standard information from a therapist or does not receive any special training or information.
Aggression (1 high-quality RCT).
There was limited evidence that people living in nursing homes with probable Alzheimer's disease who are mobile, care-dependent, but relatively highly functionally disordered, are less aggressive when following psychomotor therapy groups than when following activity groups.
The sensitivity analyses did not affect the results of the review. There was no, or too limited, evidence that any of the other interventions included in the review had positive effects on apathetic, depressed or aggressive behaviours of people with dementia.