Research evidence is key to funding the non pharmacological interventions that are very challenging to evaluate. Randomised control trials provide evidence of benefit for a significant number of people if they achieve a statistically significant outcome, but gives no information about those that do not fit the mould. Personal Construct Psychology facilitates individual, tailor made, interventions for the individual, in contrast to a streamlined approach.
The ‘therapeutic relationship’ is known to be a crucial factor in the outcome of therapy, and the ‘placebo’ effect in research designs, and defies control or measurement. For me this is a crucial area of enquiry in the quest to develop therapeutic interventions for people living with cognitive impairment. An article on Yoga & developing therapeutic relationships with people with dementia, was published in the May/June edition of the Journal of Dementia Care.
I would like to see/contribute to research that explores the benefit of yoga for people with dementia in terms of facilitating communication, rehabilitation and maintaining mobility, emotional well being, and managing symptoms of distress.