title: The course of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia in Norwegian nursing homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in patients with dementia, and cause distress for patients. Studies on the prevalence, incidence, persistence and resolution of NPS in patients living in nursing homes are sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of NPS in patients with dementia living in Norwegian nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  169 patients from seven Norwegian nursing homes were assessed five times over a period of 16 months with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). The severity and the frequency of the NPI were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  91.7% of the patients had at least one clinically significant NPS at one or more assessments over the 16 months. Irritability (63.5%), agitation (51.0%) and disinhibition (50.0%) had the highest cumulative prevalence, while irritability (42.6%), disinhibition (37.8%) and depression (31.5%) showed the highest cumulative incidence. Delusion, agitation and irritability were enduring symptoms while the other symptoms had high resolution rates. The severity of the NPS did not vary significantly over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost every patient in Norwegian nursing homes had at least one clinically significant NPS over 16 months, but individual NPS show a fluctuating course. This should influence how we monitor and treat NPS in patients with dementia.
authors: Centre of Old Age Psychiatric Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway. Sverre.bergh@sykehuset-innlandet.no
authors: Sverre
authors: S
authors: Bergh
authors: Knut
authors: K
authors: Engedal
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Røen
authors: Geir
authors: G
authors: Selbæk
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs