Jochen René Thyrian1, Tilly Eichler1, Johannes Hertel1, Diana Wucherer1, Adina Dreier2, Bernhard Michalowsky1, Ingo Killimann3,4, Stefan Teipel3,4, Wolfgang Hoffmann1,2. 1. German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. 2. Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. 3. German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany. 4. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge about the range and effects of neuropsychiatric symptoms shown by persons with dementia (PWD) living in the community and their related caregiver burden. OBJECTIVE: To examine neuropsychiatric symptoms in PWD in primary care with regard to frequency, severity, and burden to caregiver; to compare PWD with and without symptoms with regard to sociodemographics, care-related, and disease-related variables; and to identify variables associated with symptoms. METHODS: A general physician-based epidemiological cohort of 248 people screened positive for dementia over the age of 70 (living at home) and their caregivers, was assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Interview (NPI), sociodemographics, and disease-related variables. RESULTS: In preliminary analyses, neuropsychiatric symptoms were frequent in PWD. Prevalence numbers ofdysphoria/depression, apathy, and agitation/aggression were each more than 30% . The severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in people screened positive for dementia in primary care is moderate with a mean NPI score of m = 11.91 (SD = 16.0). Overall, caregiver distress is low, indicated by a total distress score of m = 5.94 (SD = 7.2, range 0-39). Common or frequent symptoms are not necessarily the most distressing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in people screened positive for dementia in primary care. While frequency, severity, and perceived distress might be low in the total sample, we identified the dimensions delusions, aggression, anxiety, disinhibition, and depression to be perceived "severely" to "extremely" distressing in more than 30% of the caregivers affected. The association between activities of daily living and symptoms needs further attention.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge about the range and effects of neuropsychiatric symptoms shown by persons with dementia (PWD) living in the community and their related caregiver burden. OBJECTIVE: To examine neuropsychiatric symptoms in PWD in primary care with regard to frequency, severity, and burden to caregiver; to compare PWD with and without symptoms with regard to sociodemographics, care-related, and disease-related variables; and to identify variables associated with symptoms. METHODS: A general physician-based epidemiological cohort of 248 people screened positive for dementia over the age of 70 (living at home) and their caregivers, was assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Interview (NPI), sociodemographics, and disease-related variables. RESULTS: In preliminary analyses, neuropsychiatric symptoms were frequent in PWD. Prevalence numbers ofdysphoria/depression, apathy, and agitation/aggression were each more than 30% . The severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in people screened positive for dementia in primary care is moderate with a mean NPI score of m = 11.91 (SD = 16.0). Overall, caregiver distress is low, indicated by a total distress score of m = 5.94 (SD = 7.2, range 0-39). Common or frequent symptoms are not necessarily the most distressing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in people screened positive for dementia in primary care. While frequency, severity, and perceived distress might be low in the total sample, we identified the dimensions delusions, aggression, anxiety, disinhibition, and depression to be perceived "severely" to "extremely" distressing in more than 30% of the caregivers affected. The association between activities of daily living and symptoms needs further attention.
Entities:
Keywords:
Behavioral symptoms; Neuropsychiatric Interview; caregiver burden; population-based; primary care
Authors: Jochen René Thyrian; Johannes Hertel; Diana Wucherer; Tilly Eichler; Bernhard Michalowsky; Adina Dreier-Wolfgramm; Ina Zwingmann; Ingo Kilimann; Stefan Teipel; Wolfgang Hoffmann Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Victoria García-Martín; M Canto de Hoyos-Alonso; Gloria Ariza-Cardiel; Rosalía Delgado-Puebla; Paula García-Domingo; Erika Hernández-Melo; Javier López de Haro-de Torres; Isabel Del Cura-González Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2022-01-22 Impact factor: 3.921