Chonnam Med J.
2006 Aug;42(2):61-65.
Frequency and Correlates of Delusions in Patients with Dementia
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. hylee@chonnam.ac.kr
- 2Haemalgeun Clinic, Gwangju, Korea.
- 3Nampyeong Mirae Hospital, Jeonnam, Korea.
Abstract
- This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of delusions in Korean patients with dementia and to determine the correlates of delusions with demographic factors and clinical characteristics including hallucination, and misidentification. The study sample consisted of 62 hospitalized patients with dementia. Data on frequency and characteristics of delusions, demographic factors and clinical characteristics of dementia were obtained. Of the 62 patients, 26 (41.9%) had one or more delusions. Of them, delusion of stealing was shown in 19 (30.6%) patients, persecutory delusion 6 (9.7%), suspiciousness 5 (8.1%), and delusion of infidelity 2 (4.8%). Brief Psychotic Rating Scale score was significantly higher in patients with delusions compared to their counterparts. However, there were no significant differences in age, gender, educational level, age at onset of dementia, Mini-Mental State Examination score, hallucination and misidentification between in those with and without delusions. Delusions were common in Korean patients with dementia. The patients with delusions should be treated more carefully and vigorously considering their having higher psychopathology.
