Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Dementia

Abstract

Although cognitive deficits are the clinical hallmark of dementia syndromes, noncognitive symptoms are common and can dominate the disease course. These include a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation, delusions, hallucinations, repetitive vocalizations, and wandering. Neuropsychiatric symptoms develop in as many as 60% of community-dwelling patients with dementia1 and in more than 80% of patients living in nursing homes. These symptoms are associated with greater morbidity, higher costs of care, and reduced quality of life for the patient as well as increased burden and depression for the caregiver. Indeed, neuropsychiatric symptoms are a primary predictor of nursing home placement. . . .