Reports by caregivers of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Abstract

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are relevant since they are frequent and cause distress to caregivers. However, they may not be reported by physicians due to the priority usually attributed to cognitive symptoms.ObjectivesTo verify whether BPSD is being systematically investigated by physicians even in specialized settings and whether their records on medical files are accurate.MethodsAssessment of records on medical files of BPSD reported by caregivers to 182 patients (57.1% men, mean age 67.6±13.5 years) assisted in a tertiary-care behavioral neurology outpatient clinic (BNOC) who also had appointments in other clinics of the same hospital. Alzheimer’s disease (37.9%) and vascular disease (19.2%) were the most frequent causes of dementia.ResultsReport/appointment ratios were 0.58 in BNOC, 0.43 in other neurological, 0.93 in psychiatric and 0.20 in non-neurological, non-psychiatric clinics. BPSD most frequently recorded in BNOC were insomnia, aggressiveness, agitation/hyperactivity, visual hallucinations, apathy, inadequate behavior and ease of crying. Sorted by psychiatrists, categories associated to more BPSD were affect/mood, thought and personality/behavior. affect/mood and sensoperception symptoms were the most frequently reported. Sorted according to Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), categories associated to more BPSD were depression/dysphoria, delusion and apathy/indifference. depression/dysphoria and agitation/ aggression symptoms were the most frequently reported.ConclusionsBPSD reported by caregivers were very diverse and were not systematically investigated by physicians. Notes in medical files often contained non-technical terms.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and severity of dementia

“…Although behavioral and psychological symptoms are ubiquitous in all dementias, their frequency and distribution may vary according to type, severity of dementia and ethnic group. 22 …”

Relação entre sobrecarga do cuidador familiar e alterações comportamentais e funcionais do idoso com doença de Alzheimer

“…A esse respeito, Vale et al (2007) De acordo com Guerra (2000), o desgaste é caracterizado por alterações orgânicas e psíquicas que uma pessoa pode apresentar devido a fatores internos como alterações fisiológicas próprias da idade e fatores externos.…”