Five trials were included, with 225 patients with dementia (range 17 to 101). All trials had a before-and-after randomised controlled design. Three reported some form of assessor blinding and two reported attrition rates (15% and 33%) and used intention-to-treat analysis.
Two small trials (31 and 17 participants) used a life review or story method. In one of these participants produced a life-story book based on one-to-one life review sessions. Significant improvements in depression, communication, positive mood and cognition were reported. The other study provided life review sessions with a trainee clinical psychologist and found significant improvements in autobiographical memory and depression.
One trial (101 participants) used specific reminiscence, which produced a life-story book using personalised triggers for each person's life history. No significant differences between groups were found, but the intervention group showed a significant improvement in measures of well-being and social engagement.
Two small trials (24 and 36 participants) used general individual reminiscence approaches. One had six weekly sessions, which focused on a particular life phase, such as childhood or family life, and introduced relevant objects for discussion from that phase. Group sessions produced improvements in cognition, but individual sessions did not. Participation in social activity resulted in a greater improvement in well-being than individual or group reminiscence. The other study used a kit of visual and auditory activities, based on five themes, such as musical instruments, designed to stimulate reminiscence. The control group included elements of reminiscence and both groups showed improvements in apathy after four weeks.