Behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia as a target for pharmacotherapy with risperidone.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of risperidone on specific behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).


METHODS
We conducted a post hoc exploratory analysis of an integrated database from 3 randomized, controlled trials of risperidone versus placebo in treating 1150 nursing home residents with BPSD. Changes in scores were measured for items on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD).


RESULTS
On the CMAI, risperidone was significantly more effective in treating hitting (p = .000), hurt self or other (p = .005), cursing or verbal aggression (p = .000), repetitive sentences or questions (p = .001), scratching (p = .041), general restlessness (p = .001), grabbing onto people (p = .028), constant request for attention (p = .041), pacing and aimless wandering (p = .013), and performing repetitious mannerisms (p = .045). On the BEHAVE-AD, risperidone was significantly more effective in treating physical threats and/or violence (p = .000), verbal outbursts (p = .000), other anxieties (p = .01), agitation (p = .000), tearfulness (p = .03), and nonparanoid delusions (p = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The items from the BEHAVE-AD and CMAI that were improved with risperidone included psychotic, agitated, and aggressive symptoms. These data suggest that risperidone is more effective than placebo in treating a variety of symptoms associated with dementia.
Rabinowitz
Jonathan
J
Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. jrabin@netvision.net.il
Katz
Ira R
IR
De Deyn
Peter Paul
PP
Brodaty
Henry
H
Greenspan
Andrew
A
Davidson
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D018967:Risperidone