Effects of multisensory environment/stimulation therapy on adults with cognitive impairment and/or special needs: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: This review aimed to evaluate the effects of multisensory environments/stimulation (MSE/MSS) therapy, on the behavior and psychological symptoms in adults with cognitive impairment and/or special needs.

Methods: Online database searches were performed to identify studies reporting on the effects of MSS/MSE therapy in adults (>18 years). Data were extracted for the following investigated outcomes including anxiety, depression, mood, behavioral attributes, biomedical parameters, cognition, motor skills, quality of life (QoL), pain, and end of life quality. Two reciprocally blinded investigators extracted the data. Inter-investigator reliability (𝝹) was calculated. A meta-analysis and a qualitative analysis were performed on the information extracted.

Results: Thirty-six studies were included for data extraction and analysis. Meta-analysis of the included studies revealed a significant improvement with the MSE/MSS therapy, for agitation (p = .018), anxiety (p = .023), cognition (p < .001), and depression (p < .001). MSS/MSE therapy demonstrated a tendency for the improvement of the QoL in adults (p = .05).

Conclusion: MSE/MSS therapies are beneficial in cognitively impaired adults and improve their anxiety, depression, cognitive and other behavioral attributes such as agitative behaviors. Promoting these therapies in geriatric care may help to improve/reduce the challenging/care-resistant behaviors in adults and facilitate effective provision of the necessary care.