title: Effects of fluvoxamine on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer's disease: a report of three cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report 3 cases of severe behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) with fluvoxamine treatment and to discuss the treatment implications for use of the drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 83-year-old woman was diagnosed with AD. Before treatment, she showed sudden irritation and excitement. Her BEHAVE-AD score was 40. She was started on fluvoxamine and quetiapine. Eight weeks later, she was friendly and thankful towards the staff. Her BEHAVE-AD score was 10. The second case was a 79-year-old woman diagnosed with AD. Before treatment, she attempted to leave our hospital and wandered and shouted throughout the day. Her BEHAVE-AD score was 42. She was started on fluvoxamine, and the dosage was gradually increased. Eight weeks later, the shouting and excitement disappeared almost completely. Her BEHAVE-AD score was 13. The third case was a 79-year-old man diagnosed with AD. Before treatment, we put him in a private, locked room because he was extremely agitated and violent because of delusions. His BEHAVE-AD score was 42. He was started on fluvoxamine and sodium valproate. Eight weeks later, the delusion became mild and did not affect his mood or behavior. His BEHAVE-AD score at this point was 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluvoxamine was effective in controlling BPSD with AD. This finding shows that the pathophysiology of BPSD due to AD may occur because of a hyposerotonergic state in the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cases show that fluvoxamine appears to be effective in the control of BPSD with AD.
authors.affiliation: Kotokukai Sato Hospital, Yamagata, 960-2156, Japan. m-kurita@fmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masatake
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mashiko
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Norimichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakahata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors