Reducing the burden of caring for Alzheimer's disease through the amelioration of "delusions of theft" by drug therapy.
BACKGROUND
Delusions of theft (delusions involving the theft of possessions) are one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


OBJECTIVE
The current study investigated the presence and extent of such delusions before and after drug treatment in a group of AD patients, and the consequent effects on the burden of care on caregivers.


METHODS
The study was an open-label cohort design. The delusions studied consisted only of those involving theft of possessions. Sixteen AD patients served as subjects in order to assess the efficacy of Risperidone administration, in the reduction or elimination of these delusions. The caregiver burden was evaluated using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) before the administration of Risperidone and 12 weeks after administration, for cases where delusions of theft were eliminated or reduced.


RESULTS
The burden of care on caregivers was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) through the elimination or reduction of delusions of theft.


CONCLUSIONS
Delusions of theft are considered to be a major factor in increasing the burden of care, and the treatment of these, through appropriate drug therapy, is therefore of great importance in the continuation of satisfactory care in the home.
Shigenobu
Kazue
K
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu-chou, Onsen-gun, Ehime, Japan 791-0295.
Ikeda
Manabu
M
Fukuhara
Ryuji
R
Maki
Naruhiko
N
Hokoishi
Kazuhiko
K
Nebu
Akihiko
A
Komori
Kenjiro
K
Tanabe
Hirotaka
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013800:Theft / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone