title: Risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease: preliminary findings from a naturalistic, retrospective study.
abstract: The objectives of this retrospective, naturalistic study were to provide preliminary data on the effects of 6 months treatment with risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine on behavioral disturbances, within a sample of outpatients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, and on predictors of response. Between July 2005 and December 2005, data were collected from 58 consecutive outpatients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with behavioral disturbances, who received a 6-month treatment with risperidone, olanzapine or quetiapine. Primary outcome measures were Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) total score and its items forming the basic core of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease: delusions, hallucinations and agitation/aggressiveness. Secondary outcome measures were Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Clinical Insight Rating scale. Correlations between baseline MMSE score and improvements in behavioral disturbances were investigated. At 6 months mean NPI total score had fallen 43.5% in the risperidone group, 45.6% in the olanzapine group and 33.3% in the quetiapine group, with no significant between-group differences. Global cognitive function showed no significant change from baseline to end-point. Incidence of adverse events was low. A significant correlation was found between MMSE score and NPI total score and NPI item agitation decreases. Risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine produced significant improvements in behavioral disturbances and were well tolerated. No significant differences emerged among treatments. The preliminary results also suggest that baseline cognitive function might influence treatment response.
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. paola.rocca@unito.it
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Rocca
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Marino
authors: Cristiana
authors: C
authors: Montemagni
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Perrone
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Bogetto
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077265:Donepezil; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077152:Olanzapine; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D010880:Piperidines; D005702:Galantamine; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D000077265:Donepezil; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine; D000068836:Rivastigmine