TY - JOUR

T1 - Teaching, teasing, flirting and fighting

T2 - A study of interactions between participants in a psychotherapeutic group for people with a dementia syndrome

AU - Offord, Rosslyn

AU - Hardy, Gillian

AU - Lamers, Carolien

AU - Bergin, Louise

PY - 2006/1/1

Y1 - 2006/1/1

N2 - Interactions between six participants with a dementiasyndrome were observed and recorded across an 8-week therapeuticgroup, using audio and video equipment. Sessions were analysedusing ‘template analysis’ methodology.Three codes were used todescribe participants’ behaviour and discussion in the group.Thesedescribed discussion of participants’ experience of dementia, theirresponses to the group itself and ways in which participants used thegroup to fulfil their own needs. Subordinate codes illustrated theselevels of participation. Participants offered practical and emotionalsupport and listened, reflected and responded to others, whilst alsousing the group to meet their own needs. Group development wasgenerally consistent with that of small groups for people without adementia.The findings raise questions about the abilities that may be retainedby people with a mild or moderate degree of dementia and challengeassumptions about ‘lack of insight’, and the positioning of peoplewith a dementia as passive.The importance of providing contexts inwhich people with a dementia can express their abilities andreciprocate within relationships is discussed. Arguments for theefficacy of psychotherapeutic support for people with a dementia, andthe inclusion of their perspectives in both research and practice arealso considered.

AB - Interactions between six participants with a dementiasyndrome were observed and recorded across an 8-week therapeuticgroup, using audio and video equipment. Sessions were analysedusing ‘template analysis’ methodology.Three codes were used todescribe participants’ behaviour and discussion in the group.Thesedescribed discussion of participants’ experience of dementia, theirresponses to the group itself and ways in which participants used thegroup to fulfil their own needs. Subordinate codes illustrated theselevels of participation. Participants offered practical and emotionalsupport and listened, reflected and responded to others, whilst alsousing the group to meet their own needs. Group development wasgenerally consistent with that of small groups for people without adementia.The findings raise questions about the abilities that may be retainedby people with a mild or moderate degree of dementia and challengeassumptions about ‘lack of insight’, and the positioning of peoplewith a dementia as passive.The importance of providing contexts inwhich people with a dementia can express their abilities andreciprocate within relationships is discussed. Arguments for theefficacy of psychotherapeutic support for people with a dementia, andthe inclusion of their perspectives in both research and practice arealso considered.

U2 - 10.1177/1471301206062248

DO - 10.1177/1471301206062248

M3 - Article

VL - 5

SP - 167

EP - 195

JO - Dementia

JF - Dementia

SN - 1471-3012

IS - 2

ER -