BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN KOREAN PATIENTS WITH MILD ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Abstract

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are major components of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we aimed at investigating the prevalence and severity of BPSD in very mild-to-mild Alzheimer's disease. Ninety-two patients with AD who visited the neurology outpatient clinic of Seoul Medical Center were included. A trained neurologist or a supervised test technician administered the neuropsychological test, the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) including mini mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The instrument used for assessing BPSD was Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q). In order of prevalence, the symptoms apathy, depression, irritability, anxiety, and agitation were very common symptoms occurring in very mild-to-mild Alzheimer's disease group. The prevalence and severity of BPSD were found to be in positive correlation with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores.