[Diagnosis of psychological and behavioural disorders in Alzheimer's disease].
Although Alzheimer's disease has long been considered mainly a cognitive disorder, behavioral and psychological symptoms are present from its onset and at all the stages of the disease in most patients. They must be identified from the beginning because they orient the diagnosis. They include affective and emotional disorders, delusions and hallucinations, disorders of instinctual behavior and behavioral problems. The best tool for assessing them is the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). They are generally related to neurobiological aspects of the disease but may, especially when acute, have multiple etiologies: somatic, iatrogenic, psychological and environmental. They condition the course of the disease. As a source of suffering and reduced quality of the life and as the primary cause of distress for the caregivers and hence of hospitalization and institutionalization, they increase the costs of care. The challenge today is to learn more about them and thus improve their treatment and especially their prevention.
Hôpital Notre Dame de Bon Secours, Paris. mp.pancrazi@wanadoo.fr
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D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004644:Emotions; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010808:Physical Examination; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D020919:Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires