Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Overview

The submitted review summarizes contemporary views on behavioural and psychological symp-toms of dementia. It deals with the epidemiology, diagnosis and basic symptoms of these disor-ders, given an account of contemporary findings on the approach to patients with these disorders.It indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms is animportant and in some instances basic aspect in the treatment of patients with dementia.Typical behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are: erring, aggressiveness, impai-red sleep, inadequate behaviour, hallucinations, delusions, depressions, anxiety. Treatment isnon-pharmacological and pharmacological. The most important non-pharmacological approachesare: adjustment of the external environment and conditions and psychosociotherapy focused onthe patient as well as on the nursing staff and family. Pharmacotherapy depends on the actualsymptomatology and the patient™s general health status. Treatment of behavioural and psycholo-gical symptoms of dementia should be always in the context of comprehensive care of old people.

Key words:
dementia, behavioural disorders, psychological symptoms, epidemiology, evaluation,psychosociotherapy pharmacotherapy.