Introduction/Objectives:
The aim of this research work is to analyze the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia-BPSD respectively the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Participants, Materials/Methods:
This study aimed to establish the standard pattern of a clinical-psychological estimate of the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia-BPSD and to describe the phenomenology of BPSD. The study was a prospective one, and it included a groups of 30 patients diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease (by ICD 10), treated in the Clinic for neurology Skopje. The following instruments for investigation were used: Standardized clinical interview, the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), and NONE standardized sociological-demographic questionnaire.
Results:
The obtained results have shown that the average age is higher in patients with Alzheimer's disease and more rapid cognitive decline and more severe cognitive impairment are present in these patients. Paranoid and Delusional Ideation are more common in patients with Alzheimer's and the activity disturbances are increased by the severity of the disease. From the beginning of the disease the average time is 3 years. The patients who came on examination are in the high percentage in the moderate and severe stage.
Conclusions:
The Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia are present in all patients. This is in accordance with data from the literature where it is said that in epidemiologic examples the frequency of the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia is lower than in clinical samples because care is sought when neuropsychiatric symptoms emerge, but unfortunately in our examination more than it, when they exceed the tolerance of the family.
