Treating Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Description of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer's and Alzheimer's treatments.

Alzheimer's Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms

When Alzheimer's disrupts memory, language, thinking and reasoning, these effects are referred to as "cognitive symptoms" of the disease. The term "behavioral and psychiatric symptoms" describes a large group of additional symptoms that occur to at least some degree in many individuals with Alzheimer's. In early stages of the disease, people may experience personality changes such as irritability, anxiety or depression. In later stages, other symptoms may occur, including sleep disturbances; agitation (physical or verbal aggression, general emotional distress, restlessness, pacing, shredding paper or tissues, yelling); delusions (firmly held belief in things that are not real); or hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there).

Many individuals with Alzheimer's and their families find behavioral and psychiatric symptoms to be the most challenging and distressing effects of the disease. These symptoms are often a determining factor in a family's decision to place a loved one in residential care. They also often have an enormous impact on care and quality of life for individuals living in long-term care facilities.

Alzheimer's Medical evaluation

A person exhibiting behavioral and psychiatric symptoms should receive a thorough medical evaluation, especially when symptoms come on suddenly. Treatment depends on a careful diagnosis, determination of the possible causes, and the types of behavior the person is experiencing. With proper treatment and intervention, significant reduction or stabilization of the symptoms can often be achieved.

Symptoms often reflect an underlying infection or medical illness. For example, the pain or discomfort caused by pneumonia or a urinary tract infection can result in agitation. An untreated ear or sinus infection can cause dizziness and pain that affect behaviors. Side effects of prescription medication are another common contributing factor to behavioral symptoms. Side effects are especially likely to occur when individuals are taking multiple medications for several health conditions, creating a potential for drug interactions.

Non-drug interventions for Alzheimer's

There are two distinct types of treatments for agitation: non-drug interventions and prescription medications. Non-drug interventions should be tried first. In general, steps to managing agitation include (1) identifying the behavior, (2) understanding its cause, and (3) adapting the caregiving environment to remedy the situation.

Correctly identifying what has triggered symptoms can often help in selecting the best behavioral intervention. Often the trigger is some sort of change in the person's environment:

• change in caregiver
• change in living arrangements
• travel
• hospitalization
• presence of houseguests
• bathing
• being asked to change clothing

A key principle of intervention is redirecting the affected individual's attention, rather than arguing, disagreeing, or being confrontational with the person. Additional intervention strategies include the following:

• simplify the environment
• simplify tasks and routines
• allow adequate rest between stimulating events
• use labels to cue or remind the person
• equip doors and gates with safety locks
• remove guns
• use lighting to reduce confusion and restlessness at night