Beneficial effects of perospirone on aggressive behavior associated with dementia.
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the serotonin-dopamine antagonist perospirone in treating aggressive and agitated behavior in patients with dementia. Six patients were referred to the outpatient clinic of Ishizaki Hospital and were followed for 6 weeks. Their psychiatric diagnoses were made using the DSM-IV. Their behavioral symptoms and degrees of cognitive impairment were measured using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAVE-AD) and the Mini-Mental Examination State. The changes in BEHAVE-AD scores were investigated. Maximum benefit was achieved at a mean perospirone dose of 9.0 mg/day. No patient experienced severe adverse effects. Post-hoc analysis showed significant improvement in the total BEHAVE-AD and aggressiveness subscale scores within 2 weeks. This study suggests that perospirone is effective in improving aggressive and agitated behavioral symptoms in demented patients and is safe to use in elderly patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Tsukuba Memorial Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan. ssato@bg8.so-net.ne.jp
Shinji
S
Sato
Katsuyoshi
K
Mizukami
Kazuo
K
Moro
Yoshiro
Y
Tanaka
Takashi
T
Asada
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054833:Isoindoles; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D054833:Isoindoles; D013844:Thiazoles; C065533:perospirone