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

Abstract

BackgroundThis 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).PurposeThe 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.ImplicationsWe highlight some recent developments in psychological therapy with people with dementia that are raising more questions and generating new outcome research.