International Psychogeriatrics

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 19, Issue 03  


Behavioral and psychological symptoms in Taiwanese patients with Alzheimer's disease

Chia-Yih Liu a1a2c1, Pei-Ning Wang a3, Ker-Neng Lin a3 and Hsiu-Chih Liu a3
a1 Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Institute of Clinical Behavioral Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
a2 Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taoyuan, Taiwan
a3 Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Article author query
liu c   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
wang p   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
lin k   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
liu h   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for behavioral and psychological symptoms in Taiwanese Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Method: Consecutive AD patients from the Memory Clinic of the Taipei Veterans General Hospital were studied. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument. Primary caregivers were interviewed for the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, the Barthel Index, and the Alzheimer's Deficit Scale. Behavioral and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale.

Results: Of the 142 participants, 73 (50.7%) had at least one delusion. The most frequent delusion was delusion of theft (N = 43, 30.3%). Thirty-five patients (24.6%) experienced hallucination. Fifty-seven patients (40.1%) had activity disturbances and 39 (27.5%) had aggression. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the presence or absence of each cluster of symptoms, namely, delusions, hallucinations, activity disturbance, aggression, diurnal rhythm change, affective symptoms, and anxiety. There was no significant correlation between age, age at onset of dementia, number of years of education, and duration of illness and each cluster of symptoms. Correlation between severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and cognitive decline was noted.

Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Taiwanese patients with AD and suggests that these symptoms are associated with cognitive deficit.

(Received May 17 2006)
(revision requested July 25 2006)
(revised version received January 8 2007)
(Accepted January 10 2007)
(Published Online March 19 2007)


Key Words: Alzheimer's disease; dementia; behavioral symptoms.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Chia-Yih Liu, Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Fu-Hsin Rd., Kuei-San, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. Phone: +886 3 3281200 ext 2439; Fax: +886 3 3280267. Email: liucy752@cgmh.org.tw.

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