The neuropsychiatric inventory scores change across the mini mental state examination ranges in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a multicenter study in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients at various stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


BACKGROUND
Several earlier studies reported high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with AD; to date, no such study has been conducted in Turkey.


METHODS
We evaluated 217 patients with AD from 18 referral centers across Turkey using a web-based dementia data registry. The Mini Mental State Examination and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were used to evaluate the global cognitive function, and assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms, respectively. We classified the patients into mild, moderate, and severe stages on the basis of their Mini Mental State Examination scores. We assessed group differences and correlations between the degree of AD severity and NPI values.


RESULTS
The highest NPI scores were seen in patients with severe AD. The mean composite scores for apathy, anxiety, and depression were the highest. The prevalence of any behavioral symptom was 86%. There was no difference in the behavioral domain between the groups or between the referral centers. Moderate correlation was found between the severity of AD and the total NPI score. The caregivers' NPI distress scores varied among referral centers.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of behavioral disturbance in AD is high and similar to earlier studies, yet regional differences are seen in caregivers' reactions to behavioral symptoms.
Yener
Görsev G
GG
Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Brain Dynamics Multidisciplinary Research and Application Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir Turkey. gorsev.yener@deu.edu.tr
D000339:Affect; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey