Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia （BPSD）--no easy solution

Management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is a hot topic because these commonly seen symptoms in persons with dementia are quite difficult to manage.As highlighted in the comments by Xiao[1],the administration of antipsychotics is controversial because the use of antipsychotic medications in persons with dementia is associated with increased mortality,increased risk of stroke and worsened cognitive function[2,3].Xiao recommends that more long-term follow-up studies on the management of the BPSD be conducted to give clinicians better guidance on the treatment of this complex condition.This recommendation is particularly pertinent for Chinese populations.Two studies from Hong Kong showed that patients with the BPSD who were treated with antipsychotic medications did not have an increased risk of cerebrovascular accidents[4]or mortality[5].Clearly,more studies should be conducted in populations of different ethnicity to confirm or disprove the presumed risks of antipsychotic medications in patients with dementia.     

Safety and Efficacy of ECT in Depressed Patients with Dementia: A Review of Clinical Experience

The authors review the results of electroconvulsive therpay (ECT) in 135 cases of depression occurring in conjunction with organic dementia, subcortical leukoencephalopathy without dementia, and depressive dementia (22 cases). Overall, 86% had a positive therapeutic response to ECT, whereas 21% experienced significant cognitive or memory side effects, virtually all of which were transient and reversible. Forty-nine percent of the patients with organic or depressive dementias experienced improvement in cognitive or memory function consequent to ECT.     

The Role of Telemedicine in the Management of the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review

The first-line management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is based on nonpharmacologic interventions such as the provision of guidance and medical support to caregivers. However, accessibility to specialized care and medical resources is often scarce. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has compromised the delivery of outpatient care (notably in order to minimize the risk of disease transmission), thus making it essential to provide other means of accessing care for these patient populations. The use of telemedicine (TM) may be a means of increasing access to specialist care for patients with disabilities and poor access to health services, such as those with BPSD. The aim of this study is to provide a review of the literature on the use of TM for treatment and follow-up of patients with BPSD and their caregivers.We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE and CINAHL for articles published between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2020, on the applicability of TM support for people with BPSD and their caregivers. We included open-label studies, qualitative studies, and randomized controlled trials . We did not include studies on the use of TM during the COVID-19 pandemic.A total of 22 publications were included and reviewed. TM was found to 1) be acceptable and feasible for both patients and caregivers, 2) decrease the frequency and intensity of BPSD, and 3) improve the caregiver's perceived wellbeing and mental health. Videoconferencing was effective for patient-centered interventions in nursing homes. Telephone-based interventions were more relevant when they were targeted at caregivers.The published studies are lacking in scope and high-quality studies are now needed to confirm these findings and assess TM's cost-effectiveness and ability to improve the management of patients with BPSD. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote solutions for assessing and monitoring individuals with BPSD are urgently needed - particularly those living in rural areas and so-called “medical deserts.”     

加速度记录仪定量化评价血管性痴呆精神行为症状的研究

目的:便携式加速度记录仪定量化评价血管性痴呆患者(VD)精神行为症状(BPSD)程度的前瞻性研究。方法:将便携式加速度记录仪佩戴于21例VD患者非利手侧手腕,于第1和第18周连续记录6 d以上,量化记录身体活动,并通过神经精神问卷(NPI)与AD病理行为评分表(BEHAVE-AD)评价VD患者的BPSD变化,解析加速度记录仪所得身体活动的平均活动量(MA)、昼间活动量(DA)以及夜间活动量(NA)的变化,分析BPSD的变化与身体活动量变化的相关性。结果:第18周时BEHAVE-AD总评分和NPI总评分呈增加趋势,与第1周比较无统计学意义(分别P=0.082和0.079);BEHAVE-AD评分中的行为紊乱、日夜节律紊乱、焦虑和恐惧评分和NPI量表中的激越、易激惹、睡眠障碍评分与第1周比较差异有统计学意义。第18周时VD患者MA、DA、NA均增加,与第1周比较,其中NA差异有统计学意义(P=0.037);BEHAVE-AD评分中的行为紊乱加焦虑和恐惧评分改变量与MA的改变量呈直线相关(r=0.674,P=0.032);日夜节律紊乱评分改变量与DA改变量呈直线相关(r=0.721,P=0.046);NPI量表的激越评分加易激惹评分的改变量与MA改变量呈直线相关(r=0.668,P=0.042);睡眠障碍评分的变化量与NA的变化量呈直线相关(r=0.809,P=0.029)。结论:利用加速度记录仪所得的身体活动的MA、DA与NA参数在一定程度上能够体现VD患者的BPSD程度,动态观察VD患者BPSD随时间推移所发生的变化,在临床上客观、定量化评价VD患者的BPSD程度有一定可行性。     

ECT Treatment of Demented Elderly Patients with Major Depression: A Retrospective Study of Efficacy and Safety

Retrospective analysis of a 4-year sample of demented patients who had major depression and who were treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) showed that they responded as well to ECT as did a previously studied group of elderly depressed subjects from our institution. Cardiac side effects were no greater in this group, but some patients did have transitory increased confusion. ECT is a safe and effective therapy for the demented patient who has concomitant major depression and who has proven to be resistant to tricyclic antidepressant drug therapy, is intolerant of such medicines, or requires emergency treatment.     

Effects of Group Music Intervention on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot-Controlled Trial

We investigated the effects of group music intervention on behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia. Twenty patients were nonrandomly allocated to either a music-intervention group, or an usual care group. The music-intervention group received 50 minutes of music intervention 3 times per week for 5 consecutive weeks. After 15 sessions, the music-intervention group showed significant in improvement with regard to agitation, and the total scores of both patients and caregivers were lower, compared with the control group. These findings suggest that music can improve behavioral and psychological symptoms, especially in patients with dementia and their caregivers.     

A systematic review of the association between the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and burden of care

BACKGROUND: Several reports have indicated that the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are associated with increased burden of care, carer depression and increased rates of institutionalization of patients. The present study aims to review the association between these variables in cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of all available information published in English between January 1990 and December 2001 was made. Case-reports, case-series and studies with 20 or fewer subjects were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS: Thirty articles are included in the review of cross-sectional data and 12 in the systematic review of longitudinal data. Pooled correlation coefficients were generated for the relationship between BPSD and caregiver burden (r(pooled) = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.52 to 0.62), caregiver psychological distress (r(pooled) = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.49) and caregiver depression (r(pooled) = 0.30; 95% CI= 0.21 to 0.39), suggesting that these concepts have a moderately strong association. Multivariate data, on the whole, further supported the notion that BPSD are a predictor of burden of care and of psychological distress and depression. Limited longitudinal data made clarifying the temporal relationahip between BPSD and the psychological sequelae of care (PSC) difficult. The limited data pertaining to the relationship between BPSD and institutionalization suggest that caregiver variables may be more important in predicting institutionalization than BPSD. Methodological issues and limitations associated with this type of investigation were also considered. CONCLUSION: The results of this review support, but do not conclusively establish, the association between BPSD and PSC. We propose that the concept of burden of care be abandoned in favor of more clinically relevant outcomes such as caregiver depression.     

伴有行为和精神症状的Alzheimer病的三项脑诱发电位研究

目的探讨伴有行为和精神症状(BPSD)的Alzheimer病(AD)的脑诱发电位(BEPs)特点.方法用美国Nicolet Spirit脑电生理仪记录12例伴BPSD的AD病人(BPSD组)、14例无BPSD的AD病人(纯AD组)和15例正常老人组(NC组)的P300、视觉诱发电位(VEP)和脑干听觉反应(ABR).结果(1)BPSD组与纯AD组相比,P300的N2靶潜伏期显著延长,P300的P3靶波幅、P2非靶波幅显著降低;VEP的P3潜伏期显著延长;ABR的波Ⅲ、波V绝对潜伏期延长及绝对波幅显著降低.(2)BPSD组与NC组相比,各项有显著差异的BEP指标同BPSD与纯AD组的比较结果.(3)纯AD组与NC组相比,P300的P3靶波幅显著降低,ABR的波V绝对潜伏期显著延长.结论BPSD组的BEPs指标异常较纯AD组明显,BPSD病人可能存在更为广泛的脑结构异常.     

Topiramate Treatment of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders: A Retrospective Chart Review

The objective of this paper was to determine if topiramate is effective as treatment for bipolar spectrum disorders in a naturalistic setting. All charts of outpatients treated with topiramate (n = 76) were reviewed, and clinical response was assessed retrospectively using the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for Improvement. Mild improvement was seen in 47% (n = 36) and moderate-to-marked improvement in 13% (n = 10) Responders received a higher mean dose (180 mg/day) than did nonresponders (83.2 mg/day, p = 0.002). Topiramate dose was also higher in those who lost weight (138.3 mg/day) than in those who did not (70 mg/day, p = 0.007). Weight loss was experienced by 50% of the sample, with a mean loss of 14.2 lbs. Side effects were reported by 82% n = 62) of the population, including cognitive effects, sedation, parasthesias, nausea, insomnia, headache, and dizziness. Adverse effects led 36% (n = 27) of the total sample to discontinue treatment with topiramate. Topiramate led to significant weight loss in about half of this bipolar population, while also improving mood symptoms at least mildly in most patients. Topiramate response and weight loss were both dose-related, with efficacy, in particular, associated with higher doses (mean = 18 0 mg/day) than frequently used in current clinical practice.     

Long-Term Use of Pramipexole in Bipolar Depression: A Naturalistic Retrospective Chart Review

A naturalistic retrospective chart review of all patients given pramipexole for bipolar depression in addition to their mood stabilizers was undertaken. Sixteen patients were followed for an average of 6.7 ± SD 9.0 months. Half of the patients stopped the pramipexole an average of 2 months after starting it. For all patients, depressed mood, and the total profile of depressive symptoms improved significantly within 4 weeks and remained significantly improved for as long as 36 weeks. Both global function (GAF), and global impression (CGI) improved with pramipexole. Irritability and insomnia both increased slightly initially, and then subsided. There were no changes in mania ratings for up to 36 months. Long-term outcome of adjunctive pramipexole appears to be adequate, with apparent maintenance of effect for over 9 months.