Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T20:02:04.425Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reality Orientation: A Critical Appraisal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Linda Powell-Proctor  and
Edgar Miller
Linda Powell-Proctor
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, England
Edgar Miller
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Reality orientation is now extensively used with psychogeriatric patients. The evidence for its effectiveness is reviewed and the underlying philosophy and assumptions are critically examined. Whilst reality orientation does appear to have some effect the benefits are small and restricted in range. It can be argued that it is not directed at the most appropriate therapeutic goals. Reality orientation should be seen as the starting point for the development of more effective intervention techniques for use with this client population and not as an end in itself.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 140 , Issue 5 , May 1982 , pp. 457 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barnes, J. A. (1974) Effects of reality orientation classroom on memory loss, confusion and disorientation in geriatric patients. Gerontologist, 14, 138–42.Google Scholar
Brook, P., Degun, G. & Mather, M. (1975) Reality orientation, a therapy for psychogeriatric patients: a controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 42–5.Google Scholar
Citrin, R. S. & Dixon, D. N. (1977) Reality orientation: a milieu therapy used in an institution for the aged. Gerontologist, 17, 39—43.Google Scholar
Cornbleth, T. & Cornbleth, C. (1979) Evaluation of the effectiveness of reality orientation classes in a nursing home unit. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 27, 522–4.Google Scholar
Drummond, D. L., Kirchhoff, L. & Scarbrough, D. R. (1978) A practical guide to reality orientation: a treatment approach for confusion and disorientation. Gerontologist, 18, 568–73.Google Scholar
Folsom, J. (1967) Intensive hospital therapy of geriatric patients. Current Psychiatric Therapies, 7, 209–15.Google Scholar
Folsom, J. (1968) Reality orientation for the elderly mental patient. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1, 291—307.Google Scholar
Greene, J. G., Nicol, R. & Jamieson, H. (1979) Reality orientation with psychogeriatric patients. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 17, 615–18.Google Scholar
Hanley, I. G., McGuire, R. J. & Boyd, W. D. (1981) Reality orientation and dementia: a controlled trial of two approaches. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 10—14.Google Scholar
Harris, C. S. & Ivory, P. B. C. B. (1976) An outcome evaluation of reality orientation therapy with geriatric patients in a state mental hospital. Gerontologist, 16, 496—503.Google Scholar
Hefferin, E. A. & Hunter, R. E. (1977) Reality orientation: how we turned the idea into a program. Nursing, 7, 89—94.Google Scholar
Hogstel, M. O. (1979) Use of reality orientation with ageing confused patients. Nursing Research, 28, 161–5.Google Scholar
Holden, U. & Sinebruchow, A. (1978) Reality orientation therapy: a study investigating the value of this therapy in the rehabilitation of elderly people. Age and Ageing, 7, 83—90.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. H., McLaren, S. M. & McPherson, F. M. (1981) The comparative effectiveness of three versions of ‘classroom’ reality orientation. Age and Ageing, 10, 33–5.Google Scholar
Letcher, P. N., Peterson, L. P. & Scarbrough, D. (1974) Reality orientation: a historical study of patient progress. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 25, 801–3.Google Scholar
Lockyer, M. N. (1979) Reality Orientation Therapy. Unpublished thesis: University of Leeds.Google Scholar
MacDonald, M. & Settin, J. (1978) Reality orientation vs sheltered workshops as treatment for the institutionalized ageing. Journal of Gerontology, 33, 416–21.Google Scholar
Miller, E. (1977) The management of dementia: a review of some possibilities. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 16, 77—83.Google Scholar
Mitchell, C. & Hartmann, D. P. (1981) A cautionary note on the use of omega squared to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral treatments. Behavioral Assessment, 3, 93—100.Google Scholar
Patterson, R. L. & Jackson, G. M. (1980) Behavior modification with the elderly. In Progress in Behavior Modification, Vol. 9 (eds. Herson, M., Weisler, R. M. and Miller, P. M.). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Salter, C. L. & Salter, C. A. (1975) Effects of an individualized activity program on elderly patients. Gerontologist, 15, 404–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, L. M. & Glass, G. (1977) Meta analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies. American Psychologist, 32, 752–60.Google Scholar
Stephens, L. P. (1966) Reality Orientation. Washington DC: APA Hospital and Community Psychiatric Service.Google Scholar
Taulbee, L. R. & Folsom, J. C. (1966) Reality orientation for geriatric patients. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 17, 133–5.Google Scholar
Woods, R. T. (1979) Reality orientation and staff attention: a controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 502–7.Google Scholar
Woods, R. T. & Holden, U. (1981) Reality orientation. In Recent Advances in Geriatric Medicine, Vol. 2 (ed. Isaacs, B.). Edinburgh: Churchill-Livingstone.Google Scholar
Zepelin, H., Wolffe, C. S. & Kleinplatz, F. (1981) Evaluation of a year long reality orientation program. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 70–7.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.