[Prevalence and comorbidity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study is to describe the frequency and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPS) in a group of 125 patients diagnosed of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (DSM-IV-TR and NINCDSADRDA criteria).


METHODS
The evaluation of the BPS was carried out using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI; Cummings et al., 1994). The sociodemographic and personal background data of the patients were gathered and the dementia stage was established with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS Reisberg, 1982).


RESULTS
A total of 122 patients (98%) presented BPS, with an average of five symptoms per patient. Frequency of presentation was the following: apathy (75%), irritability (66%), depression (60%), agitation (55%), anxiety (54%), aberrant motor activity (47%), delirium (38%), sleeping disorders (36%), disinhibition (29%), eating disorders (28%), hallucinations (20%) and euphoria (4%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show the high incidence of BPS in AD patients and point to the necessity and importance of treating these disorders appropriately.
García-Alberca
J M
JM
Unidad de Neurofisiología Cognitiva, Centro de Investigaciones Médico Sanitarias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga. jmgalberca@ianec.com
Pablo Lara
J
J
González-Barón
S
S
Barbancho
M A
MA
Porta
D
D
Berthier
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence