Introduction. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are defined as a group of symptoms of disturbed perceptive thought content, mood, or behavior that include agitation, depression, apathy, repetitive questioning, psychosis, aggression, sleep problems, and wandering. Care of patients with BPSD involves pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. We reviewed studies of nonpharmacological interventions published in the last 10 years. Methods. We performed a systematic review in Medline and Embase databases, in the last 10 years, until June 2015. Key words used were (1) non-pharmacological interventions, (2) behavioral symptoms, (3) psychological symptoms, and (4) dementia. Results. We included 20 studies published in this period. Among these studies, program activities were more frequent (five studies) and the symptoms more responsive to the interventions were agitation. Discussion. Studies are heterogeneous in many aspects, including size sample, intervention, and instruments of measures. Conclusion. Nonpharmacological interventions are able to provide positive results in reducing symptoms of BPSD. Most studies have shown that these interventions have important and significant efficacy.

Findings suggest that TAP-O may be an effective nonpharmacological strategy to reduce NPS of outpatients with dementia and to minimize caregiver burden.

In patients with TRS the combination of OT and clozapine showed to be more effective than the use of clozapine alone. OT may represent an additional therapeutic option for patients with TRS.

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Importance: The occupational goal intervention (OGI) method has been proven effective in improving executive function (EF) in people with schizophrenia, but it has not yet been tested with those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Objective: To test the efficacy of the OGI in people with TRS. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting: The Schizophrenia Program, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo General Hospital, Brazil. Participants: People with TRS according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) criteria, ages 18 to 55. Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome: improvement in EF as measured by the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS). Secondary outcomes: improvement of functionality, as measured by the Direct Assessment of Functional Status–Revised (DAFS–BR), and improvement in autonomy in activities of daily living (ADLs), as measured by the Independent Living Skills Survey (ILSS–BR), administered to caregivers. The outcomes were measured at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up. Intervention: Participants were divided into two groups: OGI and craft activities (control). Each group participated in 30 sessions during 15 wk, with follow-up at 6 mo postintervention. Results: The OGI group improved significantly compared with the control group, with medium to large effect sizes in posttreatment scores on the BADS and DAFS–BR. The ILSS–BR showed the highest effect sizes at posttreatment and follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: The OGI method is effective for improving EF, occupational performance and ADLs in people with TRS. What This Article Adds: The OGI method is an important therapeutic tool for use in the occupational therapy clinic.