Prevalence and comorbidity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Introduction. The objective of this study is to describe the frequency and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPS) in a group of 125 patients diagnosed of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (DSM-IV-TR and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria).

Methods. The evaluation of the BPS was carried out using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI; Cummings et al., 1994). The sociondemographic and personal background data of the patients were gathered and the dementia stage was established with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS; Reisberg, 1982).

Results. A total of 122 patients (98%) presented BPS, with an average of five symptoms per patient. Frequency of presentation was the following: apathy (75%), irritability (66%), depression (60%), agitation (55%), anxiety (54%), aberrant motor activity (47%), delirium (38%), sleeping disorders (36%), disinhibition (29%), eating disorders (28%), hallucinations (20%) and euphoria (40%).

Conclusions. These results show the high incidence of BPS in AD patients and point to the necessity and importance of treating these disorders appropriately.