Behavioral and psychological symptoms in Korean patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease: Preliminary study
- Author:
Soo-Ji Lee
;
Jae-Hyeok Heo
;
Hee-Tae Kim
;
Jin-Young Ahn
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2013;18(1):65-71
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are major components of Alzheimer’s disease.
In this study, we aimed at investigating the prevalence and severity of behavioral and psychological
symptoms of dementia in very mild to mild Alzheimer’s disease. Forty-four patients with Alzheimer’s
disease who visited the neurology outpatient clinic of Seoul Medical Center were included. A trained
neurologist or a supervised test technician administered the neuropsychological test, the Seoul
Neuropsychological Screening Battery including Mini Mental State Examination and Clinical Dementia
Rating. The instrument used for assessing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia was
Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire. In order of prevalence, apathy, depression, irritability,
anxiety, and agitation were the most common symptoms occurring in very mild-to-mild Alzheimer’s
disease group. The prevalence and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
were found to be in positive correlation with the Clinical Dementia Rating scores. Behavioral and
psychological symptoms of dementia are found even in the very early stage of Alzheimer’s disease,
apathy and depression being the most common symptoms. Physicians should be aware of this when
managing dementia patients.
- Full text:P020150703595149708855.pdf
