METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial.*

Allocation:

concealed.*

Blinding:

blinded (outcome assessors).

Follow up period:

7 weeks.

Setting:

23 day centres and residential homes (with ⩾15 people in each) in the UK.

Patients:

201 people (mean age 85 y, 79% women) who met DSM-IV criteria for dementia, scored 10–24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, were able to communicate, had sufficient vision and hearing to participate and use material in a group, and did not have major physical illness or disability.

Interventions:

CST (n = 115): fourteen …