Please cite this article in press as: Jaaniste, J., et al. Drama therapy with older people with dementia—Does it improve quality of life? The Arts in Psychotherapy (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2014.12.010 ARTICLE IN PRESS G Model AIP-1301; No. of Pages 9 The Arts in Psychotherapy xxx (2015) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect The Arts in Psychotherapy Drama therapy with older people with dementia—Does it improve quality of life? Joanna Jaaniste, PhD a,∗ , Sheridan Linnell, PhD b , Richard L. Ollerton, PhD c , Shameran Slewa-Younan, PhD d a School of Social Sciences & Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia b Art Therapy, School of Social Sciences & Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia c School of Computing, Engineering & Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia d Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Available online xxx Keywords: Dementia Drama therapy Elderly people Mixed method Quality of life a b s t r a c t This article describes a pilot study that aimed to evaluate the effect of drama therapy on the quality of life (QoL) of elderly people with mild to moderate dementia, using a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) approach. Study participants (N = 13; age range 61–88 years; 1 female) were Australians of European descent, principally with Alzheimer’s disease, living in the community in an east-coast Australian context. The drama therapy group (N = 4) was compared with a group of participants (N = 9) who watched movies over a four-month period. All participants were assessed for QoL using the quantitative Quality of Life Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) scale of Logsdon, Gibbons, McCurry, & Teri (1999, Journal of Mental Health and Aging 5, 21) prior to and following 16 group meetings. Qualitative data were generated and examined using phenomenological methods including recording and transcribing body language and dialogue, as well as narrative, ethnography, group themes and metaphor. Although not statistically significantly different, the average QoL-AD score increased for the drama therapy group while it decreased for the movie group. Qualitative findings established an unambiguous participant ability to express ideas and feelings through drama therapy as well as an unveiling of conscious awareness of participants’ own wellbeing and QoL. The findings also indicate the potential worth of a future larger study along the lines exemplified here. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2010 some 35.6 million people globally were living with dementia (World Health Organisation & Alzheimer’s Disease International Report, 2012, p. x). The same report gives dementia prevalence in Aus- tralasia as 6.91% and in the USA as 6.46% of the population (p. 14). Moreover, the report predicts a significant global increase in both absolute and percentage terms, so that by 2030 there will be close to 66 million people worldwide living with dementia. Dementia as a syndrome involves deterioration of the higher cortical functions of the brain (Coulson, Fenner, & Almeida, 2002). Its most common form is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibly ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 295186519. E-mail addresses: e.jaaniste@uws.edu.au, dramatherapy@ozemail.com.au (J. Jaaniste). accounting for 60–70% of cases (World Health Organisation & Alzheimer’s Disease International report, 2012). There is abundant evidence that amyloid production in the brain from protein is a major indication of AD, sometimes with genetic aetiology (Masters & Bayreuther, 1998). The amyloid protein produces neuro-fibrillary tangles which are known to underlie brain degeneration (Ginsberg, Hemby, Lee, Eberwine, & Trojanowski, 2000). Commonly recognised features of AD include lack of recall (Greene, Baddeley, & Hodges, 1996), language deterioration (Price et al., 1993) and visuospatial deficiencies (Esteban-Santillan, Praditsuwan, Ueda, & Gelbmacher, 1998). This litany of deficits can be devastating to the person with dementia as well as their family and caregivers. Drama therapist Casson (1994) calls this “potential loss of personhood in a confused elderly person . . . one of the most devastating aspects of dementia” (p. 2). Drama therapy can provide interventions which help people with AD to access their creativity and spontaneity in the face of loss of physical movement, their free- doms, loved ones, partners, recognition of others and deprivation of http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2014.12.010 0197-4556/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.