title: Pharmacological Management of Psychiatric Symptoms in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Psychiatric symptoms in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are highly prevalent and may complicate clinical management of these patients. Purpose of the present article is to present and discuss available data about the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric symptoms in patients with FTD. A research in the main database sources has been conducted to obtain an overview of the pharmacological management of psychiatric symptoms in patients with FTD. The search strategy included the following terms-"FTD and psychiatry," "FTD and behavioural disturbances," and "FTD and treatment". Pathophysiology of psychiatric symptoms in FTD is different from other types of dementia. Although drugs for Alzheimer disease appear to be ineffective for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms of FTD, preliminary evidence supports a possible usefulness of serotonergic antidepressants for these patients. Data are too scanty to draw definitive conclusions, but antidepressant treatment, particularly with serotonergic compounds, may improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with FTD. Large observational studies are needed to confirm this preliminary evidence, and a lot of effort and collaboration between neurologists and psychiatrists will be definitely crucial for future research of effective treatments for FTD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buoli
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serati
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caldiroli
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo Carlo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057180:Frontotemporal Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012701:Serotonin
keywords: frontotemporal dementia (FTD); pharmacotherapy; psychiatric symptoms