Delusions and hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease: prevalence and clinical correlates.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of delusions and hallucinations in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate factors associated with each or the combination of the two.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional, case-control study.


METHODS
Neuropsychiatry and Memory Group, The Johns Hopkins University, USA.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-two community-residing patients with probable AD according to NINCDS/ADRDA criteria were included in the study.


METHODS
Patients were assessed clinically for the presence of psychotic symptoms using the DSM-IV glossary definitions. The patients were also rated on standardized measures of cognitive impairment, depression, extrapyramidal symptoms, functional impairment and general health.


RESULTS
Seventy-five (22%) AD patients had delusions only, nine (3%) had hallucinations only and 30 (9%) had both delusions and hallucinations. Hallucinations were associated with less education, African-American race, more severe dementia, longer duration of illness, falls and use of anxiolytics. Delusions were associated with older age, depression, aggression, poor general health and use of antihypertensives. Patients with both delusions and hallucinations were similar to the patients with delusions only.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the high prevalence of psychotic symptoms in AD patients encountered in clinical practice and suggests that individual psychotic symptoms have different associations.
Bassiony
M M
MM
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
Steinberg
M S
MS
Warren
A
A
Rosenblatt
A
A
Baker
A S
AS
Lyketsos
C G
CG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors