LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, AGITATION, AND PSYCHOSIS IN 181 PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Objective: The goal of this study was to define the recurrence or cont inuation of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's dis ease who were observed serially for a 1-year period. Method: One hundr ed eighty-one patients with probable Alzheimer's disease were assessed five time at 3-month intervals with a standardized neuropsychiatric r ating instrument. Results: Recurrence rates of neuropsychiatric sympto ms during the 1-year period were 85% for depression, 93% for agitation , and 95% for psychosis. Symptom frequency at any point in time undere stimated the cumulative 1-year frequency. Recurrence rates were signif icantly greater among patients who had multiply symptoms. Women exhibi ted more symptoms than men. Patients in the oldest age group (76-87 ye ars) had more psychosis, less depression and agitation, and slower cog nitive decline. Psychosis was associated with more rapid cognitive dec line, and agitation was associated with more rapid functional deterior ation. Conclusions: These results indicate that once psychiatric sympt oms are present in patients with Alzheimer's disease, they frequently recur. These symptoms vary with age, sex, and rate of illness progress ion.