NON-PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS IN DEMENTIA (BPSD): COGNITIVE AND SENSORY INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

The behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are a huge problem for patients with dementia and for their caregivers. They affect the rate of cognitive decline of the patient, lead to early institutionalization, increase the cost and become a crucial burden for the caregivers. Unfortunately, the pharmacological treatment so far either is not effective or has many adverse effects. Furthermore, the pharmacological treatment for many BPSD is not specialized such as in apathy. Hence, the non-pharmacological interventions should be a first-line solution. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) has been used for many studies of neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders for the past 25 years. It has been translated into approximately 40 languages and has been used in approximately 350 clinical trials.
There are four groups of non pharmacological interventions: a) Cognitive, b) Sensory, c) Behavioral and d) Other kind of interventions. In this review all cognitive and sensory interventions are presented. In conclusion we need more well designed studies with all kind of interventions.