"A new pilot study led by McLean Hospitals Ipsit Vahia MD medical director of Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services at McLean Hospital suggests that the use of tablet computers is both a safe and a potentially effective approach to managing agitation among patients with dementia. Tablet use as a nonpharmacologic intervention for agitation in older adults including those with severe dementia appears to be feasible safe and of potential utility said Vahia. Our preliminary results are a first step in developing muchneeded empirical data for clinicians and caregivers on how to use technology such as tablets as tools to enhance care and also for app developers working to serve the technologic needs of this population. Use of Tablet Devices in the Management of Agitation Among Inpatients with Dementia An Open Label Study was recently published in the online version of The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. This research builds upon previous studies demonstrating that art music and other similar therapies can effectively reduce symptoms of dementia without medication. By using tablet devices to employ these therapies however patients and providers also benefit from a computers inherent flexibility. The biggest advantage is versatility said Vahia. We know that art therapy can work music therapy can work. The tablet however gives you the option of switching from one app to another easily modifying the therapy seamlessly to suit the individual. You dont need to invest in new equipment or infrastructure.  Researchers loaded a menu of  apps onto the tablets for the study. The apps were freely available on iTunes and varied greatly in their cognitive complexityfrom an app that displayed puppy photos to one that featured Sudoku puzzles.  The researchers found that tablet use was safe for every patient regardless of the severity of their dementia and that with proper supervision and training the engagement rate with the devices was nearly  percent. The study also found that the tablets demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing symptoms of agitation particularlybut not exclusivelyamong patients with milder forms of dementia. Vahia cited several examples of the tablets potential to improve a patients condition. One particular patient who only spoke Romanian was very withdrawn and irritable and medications were ineffective in controlling his symptoms. We started showing him Romanian video clips on YouTube and his behavior changed dramatically and instantaneously said Vahia. His mood improved. He became more interactive. He and his medical support team also started using a translation app so that staff could ask him simple questions in Romanian facilitating increased interaction. These significant improvements are a clear testament of the tablets potential as a clinical tool. Based on such promising outcomes the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services clinical team is expanding the use of tablet devices as a means to control agitation in dementia patients at McLean. This will allow researchers to develop more robust data and expand the scope of the study including a focus on specific clinical factors that may impact how patients with dementia engage with and respond to apps.  About McLean Hospital  McLean Hospital is the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a member of Partners HealthCare. In addition to providing a full continuum of psychiatric clinical care McLean maintains the largest neuroscience and psychiatry research program of any private psychiatric hospital in the United States. McLeans robust research program is backed by more than  million in funding from a variety of sources including foundations private contributors National Institutes of Health United States Department of Defense and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. For more information about McLean visit mcleanhospital.org http or follow the hospital on Facebook or Twitter."