Citation

Kunik ME, Yudofsky SC, Silver JM, Hales RE. J. Clin. Psychiatry 1994; 55(Suppl): 13-17.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. 77030.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7915710

Abstract

Dementia is a complex syndrome associated with cognitive impairment, personality change, and behavioral disturbance. Behavioral symptoms frequently present the greatest challenge for caregivers and are often the determining factor in institutional placement. Determining the need for pharmacologic treatment of an agitated patient requires considering the full range of biopsychosocial variables and ultimately involves assessing the risks and benefits of the medications selected for the patient. In this article, the phenomenology of agitation is reviewed along with the pharmacologic treatment of agitation in patients with dementia, including the use of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, beta-adrenergic-blocking agents, serotonergic agents, carbamazepine, and lithium.

Language: en