PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA

The current article reviews the current state of knowledge pertaining to psychotic symptoms in patients with dementia, drawing on over 70 st udies in this area. The majority of studies utilizing a purpose-design ed structured instrument have found a prevalence of psychotic symptoms in excess of 60%. The annual incidence and resolution rates are, howe ver, considerably lower, in the region of 2%. There is little consensu s about which factors are of aetiological importance, although it does seem that those with a dementia of moderate severity have the highest prevalence. Perhaps the lack of clarity in this aetiological research partly relates to the limited attention paid to phenomenology. Some s uggestions about future research directions which might improve our ph enomenological understanding of these conditions are made. Psychotic s ymptoms are associated with considerable secondary morbidity including increased aggression, irritability and distress.