Delusions of Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND: Delusions constitute one of the most prominent psychiatric complications in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is little consensus of the prevalence and associated factors for delusions in AD. AIMS: To reveal the characteristics of delusions among Japanese patients with AD. METHOD: 112 consecutive patients with AD were recruited over a one year period and administered the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). RESULTS: Delusions were present in 53 patients (47.3%). Delusions of theft were the most common type of delusion (75.5% of patients with delusions), followed by misidentification delusions and delusions of suspicion. More hallucination, agitation, and female gender were found in the delusions group. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found a high frequency of delusions, particularly of delusions of theft and suggested that gender was associated with the expression of delusions in Japanese patients with AD.