title: An exploratory open-label trial of ziprasidone for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 7-week open-label trial of ziprasidone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 25 patients who participated, 15 completed the study. The main reason for discontinuation was adverse events. The mean total Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score fell significantly from 47.1 +/- 17.1 (baseline) to 25.8 +/- 17.9 (day 49) (p < 0.01). The NPI caregiver burden showed a significant improvement from 22.6 +/- 8.3 at baseline to 11.8 +/- 7.3. The most frequent adverse events were somnolence, gastrointestinal symptoms and parkinsonism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ziprasidone was able to significantly improve distressing non-cognitive symptoms of dementia although adverse effects occurred. Additional large-scale, double-blind, well-controlled studies are necessary to evaluate the use of ziprasidone in this indication.
authors.affiliation: IPSEMG - Instituto de Previdência dos Servidores do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. rochafl@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Fábio Lopes
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Melissa Guarieiro
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Gustavo Guimarães
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kascher
authors.forename: Milena Antunes
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Gleida
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Lança
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magalhães Scoralick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; C092292:ziprasidone