Purpose: Neuropsychiatric symptoms like apathy, depression, anxiety, agitation or disinhibition, delusions and hallucinations, eating and sleeping disorders are often seen in association with cognitive decline and collectively referred to as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) or neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. We examined the prevalence and severity of NPS in patients with and without dementia who were admitted to a geriatric hospital ward. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 234 consecutive patients out of 650 admitted to a university hospital geriatric medicine ward. where a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment was completed and where a caregiver personally contacted medical ward staff and agreed to fill out a Neuropsychiatric Inventory – Short Form questionnaire that includes 12 neuropsychiatric domains. Results: Patients with dementia (88 patients, 38%; MMSE 15.4 ± 7.4 points) were more likely than patients without dementia (146 patients, 62%; MMSE 27.2±1.9 points) to be of more advanced age (81.6±6.5 versus 79.3±6.4 years; P=0.01), achieve lower Barthel Index (62.8±29.5 versus 85.1±15.4 points; P<0.001), manifest NPS and be treated with neuroleptics, anti-epileptic medicine and antiparkinsonian drugs. The total number of NPS in patients with dementia was higher as compared to those without dementia (5.25±3.04 versus 3.02±2.65; P<0.001). Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in the majority of geriatric inpatients with dementia, with the most frequent being apathy/indifference. However, neuropsychiatric symptoms are also common in geriatric medicine ward inpatients with normal cognitive function and this finding should be taken into consideration for the management of elderly patients. Authors:
Krzysztof Wilczyński, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Krzysztof Wilczyński is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Silesian Medical University in Katowice in Poland

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