Doll therapy: quando il gioco diventa realtà. La funzione terapeutica della bambola nel trattamento delle demenze e dell'Alzheimer

Abstract

The article explores doll therapy as a non-pharmacological therapy adopted in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, with particular reference to the psychological aspects and to the therapeutic function of the doll. Interest in the clinical application stems from the direct experience of the author as a psychologist in a Sunday Alzheimer Day Care Center. The author explores which factors can predispose to the therapy acceptance, the course of therapy over time, and the outcomes achieved for each patients, through a qualitative research that involved 14 patients over 6 months.