Journal
CURRENT PSYCHIATRY REPORTS
Volume 14, Issue 4, Pages 298-309Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-012-0288-5
Keywords
Dementia; Behavioral disturbances; Agitation; Aggression; Behavioral; Psychological; Non-pharmacological; Pharmacological; Interventions; Depression; Apathy; Delusions; Hallucinations; Psychoses; Sundowning; Insomnia; Euphoria; Geriatric disorders
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Funding
- Baxter
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Forest Laboratories
- Janssen
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Novartis
- Pfizer
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Behavioral disturbances are frequently the most challenging manifestations of dementia and are exhibited in almost all people with dementia. Common behavioral disturbances can be grouped into four categories: mood disorders (e.g., depression, apathy, euphoria); sleep disorders (insomnia, hypersomnia, night-day reversal); psychotic symptoms (delusions and hallucinations); and agitation (e.g., pacing, wandering, sexual disinhibition, aggression). They are often persistent, greatly diminish quality of life of patients and their family caregivers, cause premature institutionalization, and pose a high economic burden on the patient, family, and society. Behavioral disturbances can be prevented and treated with a multifaceted approach that supports dignity and promotes comfort and quality of life of persons with dementia and their family members. Management involves prompt treatment of reversible factors and management of symptoms using primarily individualized nonpharmacological interventions. Pharmacological interventions need to be restricted to behavioral emergencies and for short-term treatment of behavioral disturbances that pose imminent danger to self or others.
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