title: A 2-year follow-up of behavioural and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to examine the longitudinal occurrence and persistence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following 60 patients with mild to severe AD over a period of 2 years with annual evaluations, the prospective occurrence and persistence of BPSD in AD were determined by using the Behavioural Abnormalities in AD Rating scale (BEHAVE-AD). Clinical and demographic features of the AD patients were analysed for their association with course features of these symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the 60 AD patients experienced BPSD at some point during the 2-year period, particularly agitation was present in every patient within this period. 2-year persistence of BPSD in AD was frequently observed in patients with agitation and with depressiveness, with less frequency in patients with anxiety and aggressiveness, but not in patients with delusions or hallucinations. 2-year persistent aggressiveness was associated with older age and more functional impairment. More functional impairment was also related to 2-year non-persistent hallucinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Counselling AD patients and their families and tailoring therapeutic strategies should take into account the different modi of BPSD in AD occurring and persisting longitudinally and interacting with functional disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrische Klinik der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haupt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jänner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index