Neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in patients in the final phase of dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in a group of patients in the final phase of dementia.


METHODS
All patients with dementia (n = 216) residing on dementia special care units of two Dutch nursing homes were included in the study provided they met the criteria for the final phase of dementia. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home version (NPI-NH) and the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Quality of life was assessed with the QUALIDEM.


RESULTS
Of the 216 dementia patients 39 met the criteria for the final phase of dementia. The patients showed a specific pattern of behaviours with a high prevalence of apathy, agitation and behaviours that were mainly observed during morning care such as making strange noises, grabbing, performing repetitious mannerism, spitting, hitting, screaming and pushing. Overall quality of life of these patients in the final phase of dementia was moderate.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small sample, patients in the final phase of dementia show specific behavioural problems, that mainly should be addressed with psychosocial interventions.
Department of Nursing Home Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen, Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. r.koopmans@vphg.umcn.nl
Raymond T C M
RT
Koopmans
Marloes
M
van der Molen
Monique
M
Raats
Teake P
TP
Ettema
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents