title: Behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: phenomenology and treatment.
abstract: Limited information is available regarding the incidence, nature, and treatment of behavioral problems in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A chart review of 57 outpatients with a diagnosis of AD was conducted to examine these issues. Thirty-three (58%) patients had significant behavioral symptomatology (most commonly delusions, nonspecific agitation, and diurnal rhythm disturbances). Twenty-seven were treated with thioridazine (10-250 mg/day), 15 (55.6%) of whom were judged to have a positive response (mean maximum dose = 55 mg/day). Information regarding the characteristic phenomenology of the behavioral symptoms studied was used to design a clinical rating instrument for AD patients, the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), which should be useful in prospective studies of behavioral symptoms as well as in pharmacologic trials.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013881:Thioridazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013881:Thioridazine