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P‐091: Assessment of behavior and mood problems in Alzheimer patients
Author(s) -
Abrisqueta-Gomez Jacqueline,
Vieira Vera L.D.,
Fabı́ola Canali,
Ponce Carmen S.C.,
Bueno Orlando F.A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2007.04.344
Subject(s) - checklist , mood , neuropsychology , psychology , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , disease , cognition , family caregivers , psychiatry , medicine , gerontology , cognitive psychology
Background: The benefits of behavioral interventions for improving the functioning of AD patients have increasingly been explored. The methods of behavior assessment used will help the family and caregivers to recognize and to manage routine problems. Objective(s): Assess the impact of behavioral and mood alterations in mild to moderate phase Alzheimer’s disease patients. Methods: Subjects were 24 probable-AD patients in initial to moderate phase, average age 73.4 (6.8) and average schooling 9.5 (5.4). All were using cholinesterase inhibitors and were submitted to Neuropsychological Testing (NT) using the following instruments: Abbreviated Neuropsychological Battery (NEUROPSI), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), and Functional Performance Scale. The Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (RMBPC) was used to assess the frequency of memory problems (MP), mood alterations (MA), disruptive behavior (DB) in the patients’ everyday life and the caregiver’s reaction to these problems. Results: When we analyzed the three domains assessed on the scale RMPC, we noted predominance in the frequency of MP (68%) followed by MA (24%) and DB (8%). On the other hand, the caregivers’ negative responses to the problems were in MP (50%), followed by MA (34%), and DB (16%). The DB was more stressful for the caregivers. Conclusions: According to the observations in this study the memory problems are predominantly in the patients with Alzheimer’s disease. However, what is mostly stressing the families is the disruptive behavior that starts to appear in the initial phase of the disease. Future interventions should be directed to treat this problem.