Psychological treatments for psychological distress in dementia with emphasis on acceptance and commitment therapy: A critical perspective

Abstract

Background: This commentary offers a critical reflection on the current status of evidence-based psychological treatments for psychological distress in dementia, with a particular emphasis on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Purpose: The paper hypothesises several explanations, such as ethical dilemmas with recruitment and consent, and possible preconceptions surrounding the nature, scope and likelihood of therapeutic change in this population, for a lack of interventional research on people with dementia. Implications: We highlight some recent developments in psychological therapy with people with dementia that are raising more questions and generating new outcome research.