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Specific psychological and behavioral symptoms of depression in patients with dementia
Author(s) -
PradoJean Annie,
Couratier Philippe,
DruetCabanac Michel,
Nubukpo Philippe,
BernardBourzeix Laurence,
Thomas Philippe,
Dechamps Nicole,
Videaud Helene,
Dantoine Thierry,
Clément Jean Pierre
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2468
Subject(s) - irritability , apathy , dementia , depression (economics) , disinhibition , psychiatry , anxiety , psychology , comorbidity , delirium , clinical psychology , medicine , disease , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are very common, with 90% of patients experiencing at least one during the course of the disease. One‐third of persons with dementia have depressive symptoms, and concomitant BPSD are very likely. Objective This study aimed to characterize the psychological and behavioral manifestations of depression in patients with dementia. Methods We recruited patients with dementia from several nursing homes in the Limousin region of France. Depression was as diagnosed by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) with a cut‐off of 7, and BPSD were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results Of 319 patients with dementia, 42.9% ( n = 137) were depressed and 75.9% ( n = 242) had BPSD. All BPSD were significantly ( p < 0.0001) more prevalent among depressed patients, but no significant differences were observed according to sex and age. The NPI showed that the most common additional symptoms in depressed patients were agitation (43.2%), anxiety (42.3%) and irritability (40.1%). Four NPI‐based factors were indentified (63.9% of the common variance): factor 1 (disinhibition, irritability, agitation, anxiety), factor 2 (sleep disturbance, aberrant motor behavior, apathy), factor 3 (elation, hallucination, delirium) and the last with eating disorders. Depression in dementia patients was significantly associated with disinhibition, irritability, agitation, and anxiety. Conclusion BPSD are common and a major problem. Before addressing them as isolated symptoms, it is important to consider comorbidity with depression in order to optimize the therapeutic approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.