title: Dementia and neuropsychiatric  symptoms in nursing-home patients in Nord-Trøndelag County.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlier studies have revealed a high prevalence of dementia among nursing home patients. We conducted a descriptive study of dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients in nursing homes in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  704 nursing home patients were included and studied with the Norwegian versions of the clinical demential rating scale (CDR) and the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study indicated that 575 patients (82%) had dementia. Of these, 430 patients (75%) had at least one clinically significant neuropsychiatric syndrome in addition, most commonly delusions, apathy or irritability. The neuropsychiatric symptoms could be grouped in four categories: psychosis, apathy, affective symptoms and agitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are comparable with earlier studies of Norwegian nursing home patients. The high prevalence of dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms is of significance for the clinical practice, running and planning of nursing homes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Old-Age Psychiatry Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway. sverre.bergh@sykehuset-innlandet.no
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: Jostein
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holmen
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saltvedt
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selbæk
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D057565:Apathy; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000453:epidemiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires