Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Akarachaid Pinidbunjerdkool MD*, Sansanee Saengwanitch MD*, Pasiri Sithinamsuwan MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To identify the frequency of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and to explore the
different characteristics between subgroup and severity of dementia.
Material and Method: Sixty-seven patients with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia were recruited
to our cross-sectional study. Neuropsychiatric batteries including the Mini Mental Status Examination-Thai 2002, Thai
Geriatric Depression Scale, 23 items from Alzheimer’s Disease co-operative Study activities of daily living inventory,
Behavioral pathology in Alzheimer’s disease rating scale, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were tested.
Results : The most common behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were sleep problems (100%),
paranoid/delusion (59.7%), diurnal disturbance (49.2%) and aggressiveness (46.3%). Hallucination and affective problems
were more severe in AD than in VaD/mixed dementia. Sleep problems were identified more severe in mild dementia than
moderate-to-severe dementia. With longer duration of having dementia, except for affective problem, there was no difference
in behavioral and psychological symptoms observed compared to the shorter dementia group.
Conclusion : Behavioral and psychological symptoms were very common in Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, and
mixed dementia. Since these symptoms cause cognitive and functional decline, institutionalization, caregiver distress and
increase direct costs of care, the problem must be identified and addressed.
Keywords : BPSD, Behavior, Cognitive, Mood, Sleep, Dementia
