An exploratory open-label trial of ziprasidone for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
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.
Rocha
Fábio Lopes
FL
IPSEMG - Instituto de Previdência dos Servidores do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. rochafl@uol.com.br
Hara
Cláudia
C
Ramos
Melissa Guarieiro
MG
Kascher
Gustavo Guimarães
GG
Santos
Milena Antunes
MA
de Oliveira Lança
Gleida
G
Magalhães Scoralick
Francisca
F
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*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; C092292:ziprasidone