Behavioral Syndromes in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

The Behavioral Syndromes Scale for Dementia (BSSD) is a new instrument that showed strong internal consistency and interrater reliability in an outpatient sample of 106 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. Factor analysis provided support for a priori symptom groupings, particularly the syndromes of disinhibition and apathy-indifference. Dependency (87%), denial of illness (63%), and motor agitation (55%) were common, while sexual disinhibition (2.9%) and self-destructive behaviors (2.9%) were rare. Virtually all symptoms were predominantly minimal to mild in severity. Patients with longer illness duration were more apathetic. Disinhibited behaviors and apathy-indifference increased with greater severity of dementia. Catastrophic reactions, aggression, and agitation were associated with greater functional impairment. There was great heterogeneity in symptom presentation. In Alzheimer's disease, several behavioral changes might be direct manifestations of underlying brain pathology, rather than being solely secondary to cognitive impairment.

Gender differences in the frequency and treatment of behavior problems in Parkinson's disease

“…This trend has been described in patients with Alzheimer's disease. [28][29][30][31] Several studies have found a higher rate of depression among women with PD. [25][26][27] Our findings extend these observations in the long-term care setting.…”

Sustainable Living In Long-term Care: For People with Dementia/Alzheimer's

“…The disease process may cause some people to lose their inhibitions and act and behave in ways that they did not before, or in ways that others might consider inappropriate. This is because the usual mechanism to keep activities in check may no longer be functioning (Devanand et al, 1992).…”

Psychosis and behavioural symptoms of dementia: defining the role of neuroleptic interventions

“…The clusters or factors identi®ed cross-sectionally in seven studies are psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, suspiciousness), depression (sad appearance, anxiety, crying guilt), aggression (aggression toward others, verbal aggression, aggressive resistance), apathy (social and emotional withdrawal), motor hyperactivity or psychommotor agitation (pacing, aimless walking, handling objects inappropriately) (Haupt et al, 1998;Frisoni et al, 1999;Hope et al, 1997;Mack et al, 1999;Devanand et al, 1992;Sultzer et al, 1992;Lyketsos et al, 2000). The psychomotor agitation cluster can overlap with psychotic symptoms or misidenti®cations and aggression has been linked to the presence of psychotic symptoms, particularly delusions, in a number of studies (Deutsch et al, 1991;Aarsland et al, 1996).…”