ABSTRACT
In addition to cognitive and functional decline, various behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are manifested in the patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Some of BPSD, especially psychosis, agitation, and aggression could be challenges to caregivers and clinicians. Atypical antipsychotic drugs (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole) are widely prescribed to manage complicated neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with AD. It is known that atypical antipsychotics (AAP) have modest and significant beneficial effects in the short term treatment of BPSD. However their safety of AAP has been concerned with potentially increased adverse events. This article reviewed the treatment outcomes and adverse effects of AAP when managing BPSD in the patients with AD. The effects of risperidone and aripiprazole are obvious on psychosis and aggression, but with small effect size. AAP could exacerbate cognitive decline, and it could increase the rate of cerebrovascular accidents and mortality rate in the patients with AD.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aggression , Alzheimer Disease , Antipsychotic Agents , Behavioral Symptoms , Caregivers , Dementia , Dihydroergotamine , Mortality , Psychotic Disorders , Risperidone , Stroke , Aripiprazole , Quetiapine FumarateABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We performed a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between premorbid personality and behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: We assessed 103 patients diagnosed with AD for the presence of BPSD over the disease course by using the caregiver-rated Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI) and for the premorbid personality by using a retrospective version of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory questionnaire completed by informants. RESULTS: Premorbid neuroticism was significantly correlated with delusion, agitation, anxiety, disinhibition, total K-NPI score (p<0.05), and sleep disturbances (p<0.01). Lower premorbid conscientiousness was significantly correlated with symptoms of hallucinations and sleep disturbances in AD patients (p<0.05). However, premorbid neuroticism and low premorbid conscientiousness did not act as independent predictors for "psychosis, hyperactivity," or "moods, apathy, frontal" factors of BPSD. CONCLUSION: Premorbid personality was associated with the K-NPI score, but was not observed to be potential predictors of BPSD.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alzheimer Disease , Anxiety , Apathy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delusions , Dementia , Dihydroergotamine , Hallucinations , Surveys and Questionnaires , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are one of the common causes leading to significant impairment in quality of life for both patients and their caregivers, as well as an increased risk of institutionalization. In the treatment of BPSD, the first step is to check medical illness, and environmental status that can cause BPSD. When BPSD are associated with medical illness or environmental status, it is important to correct this condition for treatment of BPSD. However, if BPSD are very severe enough to be dangerous to patients or others and are not treatable by nonpharmacological approaches, pharmacological treatments could be considered. In pharmacological approaches, it is important to select relevant drugs according to the target symptoms, such as psychosis, depression, agitation, sleep disturbance, and so on. Due to the altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug dosages for the patients with dementia should be started very low and increased slowly.
Subject(s)
Humans , Caregivers , Dementia , Depression , Dihydroergotamine , Drug Therapy , Institutionalization , Pharmacokinetics , Psychotic Disorders , Quality of Life , Resin CementsABSTRACT
@# ObjectiveTo evaluate probability and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) in elderly with dementia in Shanghai.MethodsOn the basis surveyed before, total 1271 elderly with dementia were investigated with the international neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) to evaluate BPSD.ResultsThe proportion of elderly with dementia that had BPSD was 50.95% , it was 32.17% for clinical significant disturbance (CSD). The symptoms had greatest impact on the caregivers were paranoia (2.32±1.48), followed by abnormal motor behavior (2.30±1.31) and hallucinations (2.16±1.25). The severity rating included mild 620 cases, moderate 238 cases, and severe 406 cases.ConclusionThe incidence rate of BPSD in elderly with dementia was high. The standard of severity grading should be selected with purposes.