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Behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia subtype and severity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2009

Claire Thompson ,
Henry Brodaty ,
Julian Trollor  and
Perminder Sachdev
Claire Thompson*
Affiliation:
Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Henry Brodaty
Affiliation:
Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Julian Trollor
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Perminder Sachdev
Affiliation:
Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Claire Thompson, Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. Phone: +61 2 9382 3736; Fax: +61 2 9382 3762. Email: thompsoncl@sesahs.nsw.gov.au.
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Abstract

Background: There is a growing body of research exploring differences in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), yet these differences are inconsistent and it is uncertain whether this inconsistency might be due to the confounding effect of differing severities of dementia.

Methods: BPSD, measured with the Behavior Problems Check List (BPCL) and Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Check List (RMBPCL) and CDR-measured severity of dementia were examined using archival data of individuals with AD (N = 377) or VaD (including multi-infarct and other vascular causes; N = 74) presenting to a Sydney memory disorders clinic over a 20-year period.

Results: There was no significant difference in scores for AD and VaD patients on the BPCL or on the RMBPCL when controlling for sex and severity of dementia. However, severity of BPSD increased with increasing severity of dementia.

Conclusions: BPSD severity is no different in AD and VaD at the time of initial assessment in a memory disorders clinic population of mild to moderate dementia. However, BPSD increases with severity of dementia in this group.

Keywords

BPSDdementia subtypeseverityBPCLRMBPCL
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , March 2010 , pp. 300 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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