Reduction of agitation and anxiety observed in a case study of people with dementia using TimeSlips™ creative expression program

Abstract

TimeSlips™ is a group storytelling program encouraging creative expression among people with dementia. A case study was conducted to evaluate whether TimeSlips could decrease symptoms of agitation and anxiety, in people with dementia, utilising the overt agitation severity scale (OASS). Participants included 42 residents diagnosed with dementia and impaired by anxiety and/or agitation. Despite a rigorous enrolment process, consent for only 15 residents was attained; 12, who routinely participated in TimeSlips and control sessions, which were conducted twice weekly for six weeks. OASS ratings were conducted before and after all sessions. When pre- and post-OASS ratings were compared for, all study participants showed clear reductions in agitation and anxiety as measured by changes in OASS scores (p < .001). The TimeSlips group was as effective as the control group and consistently had lower OASS scores, showing promise for care of persons with dementia, expressing symptoms of anxiety and agitation.