ABSTRACT

Objective: This study reviewed the application of non-drug intervention programs designed to improve depression for patients with dementia. It was intended to indicate a future treatment direction for occupational therapists who provide non-drug intervention programs for dementia patients. Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and DBpia for papers published from January 2015 to December 2020. The key words searched were ‘Dementia,’ ‘Depression,’ and ‘Intervention OR Program.’ A total of 230 studies were searched and finally 7 studies were selected and analyzed. Results: All seven selected studies were experiment studies. The non-drug interventions were divided into four categories, including cognitive, reminiscence, exercise, and music programs. The session and intervention times were inconsistent. Five programs showed a significant effect on depression. Conclusion: Through this literature review, we were able to understand the characteristics of depression non-drug intervention programs for dementia patients. When providing depression interventions in occupational therapy settings, it can be used as a basis for the effectiveness of each program on the composition, sessions, and intervention time.