Authors (including presenting author) :
So SH(1), Ng HCC(1), Leung NTA(1), Chan YH(1), Chan YL(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
Psychogeriatric inpatients often experience cognitive deficits and a decline in mental well-being, which can adversely affect hospital outcomes, such as prolonged length of stay and increased physical complications. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a non-pharmacological intervention designed to improve cognitive function and quality of life. CST has been shown to be effective in promoting cognitive function and reducing negative emotions through structured group activities, particularly for elderly persons with dementia.
Objectives :
1) Integrate CST into the local occupational therapy rehabilitation program for psychogeriatric inpatients at Kowloon Hospital; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of CST in improving cognitive function and mental well-being among this population.
Methodology :
CST has been implemented since 2023 as a group-based intervention comprising 14 sessions, conducted 2–3 times per week, with each session lasting 45 minutes. Sessions included structured activities targeting attention, memory, language and executive function, while fostering social interaction and joy among participants. A pre-test and post-test design was used, with the Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) to evaluate cognitive function and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index to assess mental well-being. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.
Result & Outcome :
Twelve female psychogeriatric inpatients (mean age = 75.5) with stable mental conditions and cognitive deficits completed the program. Diagnoses included dementia (25%), psychotic disorders (42%), and mood disorders (33%). Mental well-being significantly improved, as shown by the WHO-5 Well-Being Index scores, with a mean increase from 9 to 16.33 (Z = -2.945, p = 0.003). Cognitive function was maintained, with no significant change in HK-MoCA scores (Z = -1.656, p = 0.098). However, subgroup analysis revealed that patients with psychotic or mood disorders showed significant improvement in HK-MoCA scores (Z = -2.035, p = 0.042), suggesting their cognitive deficits may be more responsive to CST. In conclusion, CST was effective in improving mental well-being and maintaining cognitive function among psychogeriatric inpatients. For patients with psychotic or mood disorders, cognitive function even showed notable improvement. Future studies should include larger datasets to further validate the application of CST in local inpatient setting and explore its impact across different diagnoses.
