Objective: To investigate doll therapy of influence of agitation behaviors
in patients with severe senile dementia. Methods: The doll therapy was used as the
intervention in 19 patients. MMSE and agitation behavior scale were measured, and
patient’s facial expression, speech, interpersonal interaction as well as difficulties in
care were observed before intervention and 1 month after intervention. Results: there
was no significant difference in MMSE scores before and after intervention with the
doll therapy. However, the total scores of excitation behavior and the somatic nonaggression behavior showed statistically significant differences. Increased smiling,
speaking and interpersonal interaction and decreased difficulties in care were also
found. Conclusion: Doll therapy applied in the care of patients with severe senile
dementia can reduce patients’ agitation behavior, improve patients’ sense of pleasure,
promote interpersonal interaction, reduce the difficulty of care, and is worthy of
clinical use.