대한노인정신의학회

Objective: The purpose of our study was to identify the correlation between clinical characteristics and behavioral psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and to identify factors that predict BPSD changes.
Methods: Demographic characteristics were collected and BPSD was assessed using the Korean version of Neuropsychiatric Inven- tory (K-NPI) for 213 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. BPSD was reassessed to identify changes in the K-NPI score for 65 of the 213 patients. Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery was conducted to evaluate specific cognitive functions. Correlation and stepwise regression analyses were conducted to identify the association between several factors and the baseline K-NPI total score. Logistic re- gression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of improvement of BPSD.
Results: Stepwise analysis showed that the baseline K-NPI total score was significantly affected by higher Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and having family history of dementia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that improvement of BPSD was significantly associated with a higher baseline K-NPI total score. However, changes in BPSD were not predicted by any specific cognitive functions.
Conclusion: Severe BPSD at baseline is a significant predictor of improvement of BPSD. The findings support that severe BPSD at baseline had more chance to benefit from the intervention. Therefore, clinicians need more intensive observation and early inter- vention for patients in the early stages of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease; Cognitive function; Behavioral symptoms; Psychotropic drugs.