ASSOCIATIONS OF PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS IN DEMENTIA SUFFERERS

Background. Psychotic symptoms in dementia have been considered as a s ingle category which may have masked important associations. An explor atory analysis was undertaken to look separately at delusions, visual hallucinations and delusional misidentification. Method. Psychotic sym ptoms were assessed with the Burns' Symptom Checklist in 124 patients with DSM-III-R dementia. Results. Eighty-three (66.9%) patients had ps ychotic symptoms. Deafness and life events were associated with delusi ons and visual impairment was associated with visual hallucinations, w hile senile dementia of Lewy body type and older age were associated w ith both. Conclusions. Differences are evident in the associations of delusions and visual hallucinations. Sensory impairments were associat ed with both symptoms.