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Comparison of behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease among institution residents and memory clinic outpatients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2009

Ting-Wen Cheng ,
Ta-Fu Chen ,
Ping-Keung Yip ,
Mau-Sun Hua ,
Chi-Cheng Yang  and
Ming-Jang Chiu
Ting-Wen Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ta-Fu Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ping-Keung Yip
Affiliation:
Neurological Center, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
Mau-Sun Hua
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Chi-Cheng Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ming-Jang Chiu*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Ming-Jang Chiu, Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan S. Rd, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Phone: +886-2-23123456 ext 65339; Fax: +886-2-23418359. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) cause caregiver distress and earlier institutionalization. We compared the prevalence and characteristics of BPSD between institution residents and memory clinic outpatients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) to test the hypothesis that there is more BPSD among institution residents than among their outpatient counterparts.

Methods: We assessed BPSD by interviewing the patients’ principal caregivers, either family or professionals, using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). Data from 138 patients with probable AD from the memory clinic and 173 residents with possible AD living in the long-term care facilities were collected. The diagnoses followed the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.

Results: BPSD profiles of the two groups were similar but not identical. The prevalence of at least one BPSD was high in both groups (community 81.9%, institution 74.9%). Activity disturbance was the most frequently reported BPSD in both groups (community 52.2%, institution 38.7%). Delusions, hallucinations, anxiety and aggressiveness were seen more frequently in memory clinic outpatients. The outpatients also had higher scores of BEHAVE-AD subscales in delusion/paranoid ideation, affective disturbance, and global rating of severity. With the increase of disease severity there were significantly more activity disturbance, psychosis, and aggressiveness in patients with AD.

Conclusions: Caregiver factor and institution effect were two possible reasons for the higher prevalence and the greater severity of BPSD in community patients. BPSD caused more distress to family caregivers than the professional caregivers. High levels of psychotropic prescriptions for patients living in the long-term care facilities may also play a role.

Keywords

caregiver burdencommunitypsychotropicslong-term care facilities
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 1134 - 1141
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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