Objectives: This study aimed to compare the behavioral psychological symptoms of dementia by stages and to suggest the proper management treatment plan.
Methods: We examined behaviral psychological symptoms in 17 dementia patients with mild stage (CDR=0.5, 1), 18 dementia patients with moderate stage (CDR=2) and 24 dementia patients with severe stage (CDR=3, 4). We compared the prevalence and the composite scores (frequency X severity) of each behavioral domain in K-NPI among three groups. The MMSE-K, GDS, Barthel ADL were also administrated to evaluate the general cognitive function, severity of the patients and activity of daily living.
Results: The most common behavioral disturbances were apathy/indifference, depression/dysphoria, and aberrant motor behavior. The mean composite score of aberrant motor behavior increased by stages of dementia severity with statistical significance. The total score of the K-NPI increased with severer stages of dementia the result didn’t show statistical significance. The K-NPI score showed the positive correlation with CDR, GDS and the negative correlation with MMSE-K, B-ADL. But, there was no statistically significant correlation.
Conclusion: Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) change by the stages of dementia. The practical guideline for BPSD management according to dementia stage is needed. Re-evaluation and new therapeutic inter-vention must be considered by the stages of dementia.
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