title: Correlation between a reduction in Frontal Assessment Battery scores and delusional thoughts in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between delusional thoughts (delusional ideation or misidentification) and frontal lobe function using the Japanese version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) bedside screening neuropsychological test in early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight probable AD patients with Mini-Mental State Examination score >or=18 points and a clinical dementia rating score of either 0.5 or 1.0 were divided into two groups based on data obtained from interviews with their caregivers: a delusional thought group (n = 19) and a non-delusional thought group (n = 29). The FAB total and subtest scores were then compared for the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found between the FAB total (P < 0.01) and subtest scores (similarities, motor series, conflicting instructions; P < 0.05) for the two groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that delusional thought was significantly associated with the FAB total score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to episodic memory disorders, a reduction in the FAB score may reflect frontal lobe dysfunctions, including executive function, in patients with AD, leading to delusional ideation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jikei University School of Medicine, Kashiwa Hospital, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. t.nagata@jikei.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kimiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Hirohide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kada
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kada
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsumura
authors.forename: Shunichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinagawa
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis