ReviewJournal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA2026
Agitation in dementia: Evidence-based consensus recommendations.
Review in Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Agitation is among the most disabling behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, contributing substantially to caregiver burden, institutionalization, and healthcare utilization. Considering the modest efficacy and significant adverse effects associated with psychotropic medications, person-centered approach (PCA) and non-pharmacological interventions are recommended as first-line management strategies. We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials evaluating PCA and non-pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia published before September 30, 2025. The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were evaluated using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Moderate-quality evidence supports the use of massage and touch therapy, particularly individualized music therapy, tailored activity programs, and multicomponent interventions. By contrast, sensory-based approaches such as aromatherapy and Snoezelen demonstrated inconsistent or low-quality evidence. The organizational-level implementation of PCA and structured need-driven assessments are associated with improved quality of life and appear to enhance the effectiveness of subsequent non-pharmacological interventions. The most consistent and clinically meaningful benefits were observed when individualized strategies were preceded by systematic PCA-based assessment. Overall, PCA-guided, multifaceted non-pharmacological interventions provide the preferred foundation for managing agitation in dementia, reducing reliance on pharmacotherapy while promoting care quality, dignity, and overall well-being. Future efforts should focus on optimizing implementation through structured staff training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technology-assisted assessment models to improve feasibility and scalability across diverse care settings.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.