Visualisation of Clinical and Non-clinical Characteristics of Patients with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Abstract

We created a computer model with a user-friendly graphical interface that could tell an accurate and engaging story about the management of patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer's disease. The agent-based model was built using the AnyLogic development platform and calibrated with data on prevalence and incidence of dementia in the Australian population. The graphical user interface of the model consisted of multiple screens and was intended as a tool for information visualisation and virtual experiments. The dynamic progression of the symptoms and each patient's individual characteristics such as age, gender and place of residence were integrated into one model. The preliminary results indicate that simulation modelling approach and application of multiple icons in graphical representation of each individual patient are efficient tools for information visualisation in agent-based model. The dual graphical representation of individual patients allowed for simultaneous display of clinical e.g. symptom-specific and non-clinical e.g. accommodation characteristics.

Monitoring and Detection of Agitation in Dementia: Towards Real-Time and Big-Data Solutions

“…Based on this analysis retention of IAL for domestic settings can be restricted to tiers 2, 3, and 4 with possible tier 5 patients displaying behaviours closely related to tier 4 patients as set out in the 7 tier model. This conclusion is supported by the observations in [5]; from a dementia management perspective the estimated prevalence of BPSD in dementia patients in specific tiers is: 40% for tier 2, 30% for tier 3, 20% for tier 4, 10% for tier 5, and 1% for tier 6. The incidence in tier 7 is noted as 'rare'.…”

“…modelled in [5] based on the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) [2]. The BPSD has gained acceptance from health care practitioners and in computer science research; seminal work being conducted by, for example, Cohen-Mansfield et al, see [6].…”

“…A 7 tiered conceptual model [5] sets out a graphical representation of BPSD in which patients with dementia are classified according to the severity of symptoms and their need for different levels of health care services, the seven tiered model is constructed as follows. The prevalence % are estimates; for tier 7 prevalence is the estimated percentage of people with dementia who fall into this category and for tiers 5 and 6 estimates are based on clinical observations in, for example, [7].…”

“…• In considering tier 1, this can be managed by regular consultations with healthcare professionals where diagnosis and management can implemented however while management of the condition can be achieved through universal prevention, specific strategies to prevent dementia remain unclear [5]. Tiers 6 and 7 require institutionalisation and retention of a domestic living arrangement is impractical and potentially dangerous for both patients and carers.…”

“…There is a large body of documented research addressing Alzheimer type conditions in general and dementia in particular [5][6] [7]; the literature reviewed has focused on agitation and aggression as these behaviors relate to dementia. Agitated behavior is one of the most frequent reasons that patients with dementia are placed in long-term care settings.…”