Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of people with dementia in long-term care units: A secondary analysis

Abstract

Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of people with dementia in long-term care units: A secondary analysis Abstract: Background: In a progress of dementia, most people develop neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, there is little knowledge about the prevalence of these symptoms and their specific characteristics in long-term care. Aims: A differentiated investigation of the prevalence and characteristics of neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with dementia in a long-term care setting. Methods: The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of people with dementia in a long-term care setting was examined using a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the research projects LebenQD I and II and FallDem. The data were collected using the neuropsychiatric inventory - nursing home version. The analysis included data from 699 people with dementia from a total of 21 long-term care facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Results: The symptoms agitation/aggression (36%), depression/dysphoria (33%), apathy/indifference (33%), irritability/lability (30%) and aberrant motor behaviour show the highest prevalence. The symptoms hallucinations (9%) and euphoria/elation (6%) have the lowest prevalence. Conclusions: The high prevalence of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms and their characteristics in people with dementia illustrates the need for care-related or psychosocial interventions to counteract the reasons for the occurrence of the symptoms.