Spouse caregivers and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Background: Only a few studies have specifically considered the role of caregiver characteristics in the presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences in the presence of individual BPSD between community-dwelling dementia care recipients with spouse caregivers and those with non-spouse caregivers.

Methods: Care recipients (n = 109) and their primary caregivers were recruited from memory clinic outpatients at the public psychiatric hospital in Sapporo City, Japan. Data were collected by questionnaire. Relationship with the care recipient was categorized as either ‘spouse’ or ‘non-spouse.’ The frequency of BPSD occurrence observed by the caregiver was assessed using the Troublesome Behavior Scale (TBS). Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine whether there were differences with regard to each of the 14 TBS items between spouse and non-spouse caregivers.

Results: The number of spouse caregivers was 47 (43.1%). TBS items presented by >50% care recipients were ‘repetition and/or clinging’ and ‘ill-natured denial and/or distortion.’ After adjustment for the characteristics of caregivers and care recipients, non-spouse caregivers were found to be significantly associated with the presence of ‘hiding and/or losing things,’ ‘rummaging,’ ‘crying and/or screaming,’ and ‘interfering with a happy home circle,’ compared with spouse caregivers.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that non-spouse caregivers need more support with regard to certain symptoms of individual BPSD compared with spouse caregivers. Identifying caregiver characteristics that are independently associated with each individual BPSD may help customize interventions for caregivers with specific characteristics.     

Clinicopathological correlates of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Behavioral and psychological symptoms are commonly observed in a majority of demented patients at some time during the course of their illness. Many of these psychiatric manifestations, especially those related to mood, may be early expressions of dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment. The literature suggests that behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are an integral part of the disease process. The dissociation, in many cases, between BPSD and the rather linear decline in cognitive functions suggests that independent pathophysiological mechanisms give rise to these symptoms. A review of the neuroimaging and neuropathology literature indicates that BPSD are the expression of regional rather than diffuse brain pathology. Psychotic symptoms in demented patients usually demonstrate preferential involvement of the frontal lobe and/or limbic regions. Visual hallucinations differentiate themselves from other psychotic symptoms by their tendency to involve the occipital lobes. There is a significant association between apathy and structural changes of the anterior cingulate gyrus. White matter hyperintensities occur in a significant number of depressed patients; otherwise, there is lack of association between depression and either specific brain changes or affected regions. Strictly neuropathological explanations are likely to be insufficient to explain BPSD. Environmental changes, neurochemical abnormalities, past psychiatric history (including premorbid personality), social history (e.g., intellectual achievement and life-long learning), family history, and genetic susceptibility are factors, among others, that influence BPSD.     

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia) and the development of dementia treatments

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are central features of dementia and an important treatment target. They should be assessed in future studies of emerging dementia therapies, using appropriate measures matched to the purpose of each study. Several significant issues remain regarding (1) the classification of these symptoms into syndromes, and (2) the development of better clinical measures for their quantification. In particular, effort should be directed at assessing their evolution over shorter time periods, and at using more objective methods in their measurement, such as actigraphy. These issues can be solved with nosologic study and other advances that could be brought about quickly, if appropriate time and effort are allocated. Empirical characterization of clinically meaningful change in NPS--by examining their relationship with dementia care burden, disability, quality of life, caregiver distress, and resource utilization--would be an important advance.     

Study of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Taiwan

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common serious problems that affect the quality of life for both the patients with such symptoms as well as their caregivers. BPSD present a major challenge in the medical management of patients and are the major cause of institutionalization. Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in Taiwan. I performed a systematic literature review on BPSD studies and found that Taiwanese patients with AD exhibit many of the BPSD. Studies showed that between 30% and 63% of Taiwan's AD patients experienced delusion. Hallucination occurred less frequently, which ranged from 21% to 26%. Anxiety occurred in 35-76% of patients and depression 22-50%, sleep abnormalities 26-61% and 39-46%. The differences in the prevalence of BPSD might result from the different clinical settings and evaluation instruments. The prevalence and clinical manifestations of BPSD in Taiwan are similar to Western reports and it suggests that most of BPSD are neurobiologically determined. Based on differing cultural backgrounds, the interpretation of agitation and apathy might differ, so, the development of cross-cultural applicable criteria and rating scales for the assessment and treatment of BPSD are important for future studies.     

The role of norepinephrine in the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common serious problems that are a major contributor to caregiver burden. Despite their significance, the underlying neurobiology of these disturbances is still unclear. This review examines the role of norepinephrine (NE) on BPSD, including depression, aggression, agitation and psychosis. A number of lines of evidence suggest that NE dysfunction leading to BPSD may result from increased NE activity and/or hypersensitive adrenoreceptors compensating for loss of NE neurons with progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). With greater appreciation of the underlying neurobiology of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) more effective, rational, targeted pharmacotherapy will hopefully emerge.     

痴呆行为和精神症状的诊断与治疗现状

老龄化社会的到来使痴呆成为神经精神科及老年科最为常见的问题之一[1].尽管早在1906年,Alzheimer医师即已指出,精神症状是痴呆的常见伴随症状,但长期以来尚缺乏统一的描述和定义.     

Neurobiological basis of behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia of the Alzheimer type

Recent dementia studies indicate that behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are not merely an epiphenomenon of cognitive impairment, but could be attributed to specific biological brain dysfunction. We describe findings from different research modalities related with BPSD (psychopathological, neuropsychological, neurochemical, and psychophysiological strategies), and attempt to reconcile them into the more integrated form. Characteristics of delusions in dementia patients should be studied in more detail from a psychopathological aspect, aiming for the integration of psychopathology and neurobiology. Imperfect integration of memory function and cognitive function, assigned to the limbic systems and association areas, respectively, may result in BPSD. More intimate collaboration of psychopathological and neurobiological study would be fruitful to promote the research in psychological basis of BPSD. Neurochemical studies indicated that density of extracellular tangles and/or PHF-tau protein have relationships with delusion or misidentification. These changes in neurochemical parameters should be the key to understanding the pathogenesis of BPSD. More importantly, neurochemical and psychological study could be linked by the research in psychophysiology. Computer-assisted electroencephalogram analysis suggests that the right posterior hemisphere shows significant age-associated change earlier than the left in the elderly. Cerebral metabolic rate by positron emission tomography study indicates that paralimbic, left medial temporal, and left medial occipital area are involved in pathogenesis of BPSD in some dementia patients.     

论坛：抗精神病药在痴呆中的应用抗精神病药治疗老年期痴呆精神行为症状的争议

老年期痴呆的临床表现除认知缺损和社会生活功能减退外,几乎所有病人在病程中都表现有精神行为症状,一般称为痴呆的精神行为症状（behavioralandpsychologicalsymptomsofdementia,BPSD）。     

痴呆的行为和精神症状的药物治疗调查

目的：了解抗精神病药治疗痴呆的行为和精神症状（BPSD）的情况。方法：调查443例伴有明显的行为和精神症状、用抗精神病药治疗其行为和精神症状有效的阿尔茨海默病和血管性痴呆患者。结果：常用于治疗BPSD的抗精神病药有奋乃静、利培酮、氟哌啶醇、氯丙嗪、氯氮平、硫利达嗪、舒必利等,其起始剂量与有效剂量均较小,大多单一用药。用药剂量与年龄呈负相关。主要不良反应是锥体外系反应、便秘或排尿困难、嗜睡或步态不稳、吞咽困难等。抗精神病药不良反应发生率为16．0％,典型抗精神病药发生率（18．4％）显著高于非典型抗精神病药（9．6％）。结论：多种抗精神病药治疗BPSD均有效,治疗剂量低。非典型抗精神病药的安全性优于典型抗精神病药。     

血管性痴呆精神行为学症状的相关因素分析

目的 了解血管性痴呆(VaD)患者的精神行为学症状特点及与认知障碍、年龄、受教育程度等因素的相关性,探讨神经精神科问卷(NPI)中不同因子之间的内在联系. 方法 采用NPI和简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE),分别评价120例VaD患者和61例健康老年人的精神行为学症状. 结果 VaD组患者NPI量表中的妄想、幻觉、激越、抑郁/心境恶劣、淡漠、易激惹、异常行为、食欲和饮食障碍等8个症状得分均明显高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),其中得分最高的3个症状依次为抑郁/心境恶劣、情感淡漠、易激惹;其中幻觉、情感淡漠、异常行为等因子与认知障碍程度高度相关;异常行为与年龄、受教育程度均相关;同时对NPI各因子进行分析,获得了3个亚综合征,分别代表精神病性、情感异常和失控制行为. 结论 VaD患者普遍存在精神行为学症状,其症状的出现及严重程度与认知障碍、年龄、受教育程度有不同程度的相关性,各亚综合征中的子因子可能存在共同的病理生理基础.     

New therapeutic strategies for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia]

Interventional studies, with the aim of reducing the burden of care through drug or non-drug therapies of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), have been scarce. However, we are now able to do pharmacological management for BPSD with new drugs such as atypical neuroleptics, SSRIs, and cholinesterase inhibitors. Delusions of theft are one of the most frequently observed BPSD in patients with AD. In addition, the delusions and ensuing aggression and anxiety are major factors that increase the burden of caregivers. Delusions of theft in patients with AD were eliminated or reduced with low-dose atypical neuroleptics (risperidone). This significantly reduced the burden of care overall for caregivers. New therapeutic strategies such as cholinesterase inhibitors for visual hallucinations in DLB and SSRIs for overeating and stereotyped behavior in FTLD might also remarkably reduce the burden of care for these patients. For many dementia patients, there are still no drugs that offer a principal cure. It is, therefore, important to evaluate their BPSD correctly at the earliest possible time, so that the burden of caring can be reduced through appropriate drug treatment. This reduction is critical for the continuation of satisfactory at-home care and might contribute to the health economics.     

Clinical experience with risperidone in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Dementia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms. The efficacy and tolerability of risperidone for treating dementia-associated psychological and behavioral disturbances were evaluated in a study of 135 patients aged 60-85 years with DSM-IV diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease. All were treated with risperidone at a starting dose of 0.5 mg once daily at bedtime. After the first 3 days of therapy the dosage was increased to 1 mg in 2 doses (morning and evening), then a further 0.5 mg was added (alternatively in the morning and in the evening) every three days until attenuation of the psychiatric symptoms. The response to treatment was evaluated for a period of 12 weeks by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). Both NPI and BEHAVE-AD were administered at the baseline visit, and after 4 and 12 weeks of therapy. Tolerability was assessed by the incidence of clinically evident side effects. The mean dose at endpoint was 1 mg/day of risperidone. The mean NPI score was 28.80+/-13.92 at start, 15.55+/-11.25 after 4 weeks and 8.30+/-7.00 at endpoint. The reduction in mean scores at 4 and 12 weeks was statistically significant in most of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory items, except for appetite disorders (p<0.0001). The mean BEHAVE-AD score was 20.44+/-3.92 at start, 13.50+/-11.39 after 4 weeks and 8.03+/-7.80 at endpoint. All the items showed a statistically significant improvement after 4 and 12 weeks (p<0.0001). The results were better at 12 than at 4 weeks. In our elderly patients with dementia low-dose risperidone was well tolerated and associated with reductions in BPSD, in particular agitation, aggression, irritability, delusions, sleep disorders, anxiety and phobias.     

老年性阿尔茨海默病与血管性痴呆患者的行为和精神症状的比较

目的探讨阿尔茨海默病痴呆患者的行为和精神症状。方法选取本院2011年5月至2015年5月诊治的痴呆性老年患者80例,其中血管性痴呆(VD)患者40例为VD组,阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者40例为AD组,均行AD行为评分表(Behave-AD)评定,比较两组患者的行为和精神症状。结果 AD组患者偏执和妄想发生率、行为紊乱发生率、攻击行为发生率、焦虑和恐惧发生率均明显高于VD组,AD组患者偏执和妄想评分、行为紊乱评分、攻击行为评分、焦虑和恐惧评分、总评分均明显高于VD组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。AD组患者幻觉发生率高于VD组,AD组患者日间节律紊乱发生率、情感障碍发生率均低于VD组,AD组患者幻觉评分高于VD组,AD组患者日间节律紊乱评分、情感障碍评分均低于VD组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 AD患者偏执和妄想、行为紊乱、攻击行为、焦虑和恐惧等病症较为严重,其发生机制可能与AD患者存在较明显的额-枕叶萎缩有关。     

Effect of risperidone on behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive function in dementia

AIMS: This open-label study examined the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in the treatment of aggression, agitation, and psychotic symptoms in dementia. The influence of risperidone on cognitive function was also assessed under conditions reflecting normal, daily clinical care. METHOD: A total of 34 hospital inpatients and outpatients (mean age = 76 years) with DSM-IV dementia disorders were treated with flexible doses of risperidone (0.5-2 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Assessments, conducted at baseline and after weeks 4 and 8, included the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) ratings. Cognitive function assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and specific measures of cognition (Age Concentration Test [AKT] and Brief Syndrome Test [SKT]). Frequency of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) was measured according to the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS). RESULTS: At the end of the study, 50% of patients (N = 17) were receiving risperidone, 1 mg/day. 18% (N = 6) were receiving 0.5 mg/day, and 32% (N = 11) received > 1 mg/day (mean dose at endpoint = 1.1 mg/day). An improvement in symptoms, as measured by the CGI-Global Impression of Change scale, was reported for 82% of patients (N = 28) (59% [N = 20] much or very much improved). The frequency and severity of delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, and irritability decreased as measured by the NPI. Multiplication of frequency and severity scores revealed a significant decline during the course of treatment (p < .001, end of study vs. baseline). Caregiver responses on the NPI also showed an improvement, with the mean +/- SD total score decreasing from 24.2 +/- 7.3 at baseline to 21.2 +/- 6.3 at study end (p = .002). MMSE, AKT, and SKT results indicated that there was no decrease in cognitive function during the study. Risperidone treatment was well tolerated, and no clinically relevant changes in EPS. vital signs, or weight were detected. CONCLUSION: During treatment with low-dose risperidone, behavioral and psychological symptoms improved overall in 34 patients with dementia, and cognitive function was maintained throughout the treatment period.