CST in Practice
A pilot study (7) evaluated the effectiveness of 16 further, weekly sessions following on from CST. Results suggested that benefits in cognition from CST might be maintained for a longer period of nearly six months. CST is an adaptable approach which can benefit a wide range of people with dementia. For example, a new service in South Bedfordshire will be offering and evaluating CST for people living in the community. Most of these people will be at early stages of dementia and not eligible for drug therapies, due to the recent changes in NICE guidance. They will participate in ongoing, 'maintenance CST' once the groups have finished, and the effecticeness of this longer-term treatment will be evaluated in the clinical setting.