J Korean Med Assoc.  2002 Apr;45(4):415-420. 10.5124/jkma.2002.45.4.415.

Pharmacological Treatments of Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia

• Hahm DS
• Han IW

• KMID: 2416595
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2002.45.4.415

Abstract

Behavioral symptoms are well-recognized concomitants of the progression of dementia. These symptoms include agitation, aggression, anxiety, depression, disinhibition, delusions, hallucination, and sleep disturbance. Because these symptoms are a major source of impaired quality of life for patients and their caregivers, appropriate pharmacological management of them may reduce the burden of caregivers and postpone institutionalization. Furthermore, behavioral symptoms may be more amenable to pharmacological intervention than cognitive symptoms. For that reason, detailed evaluation and appropriate treatment are the mainstay in the management of dementia patients. In this article, we reviewed symptomatology and psychopharmacology for behavioral symptoms of dementia.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; Behavioral symptoms; Psychopharmacology

MeSH Terms

Aggression
Alzheimer Disease
Anxiety
Behavioral Symptoms*
Caregivers
Delusions
Dementia*
Depression
Dihydroergotamine
Hallucinations
Humans
Institutionalization
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
Psychopharmacology
Quality of Life
Dihydroergotamine