PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT OF AGITATION ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA

Dementia is a complex syndrome associated with cognitive impairment, p ersonality change, and behavioral disturbance. Behavioral symptoms fre quently present the greatest challenge for caregivers and are often th e determining factor in institutional placement. Determining the need for pharmacologic treatment of an agitated patient requires considerin g the full range of biopsychosocial variables and ultimately involves assessing the risks and benefits of the medications selected for the p atient. In this article, the phenomenology of agitation is reviewed al ong with the pharmacologic treatment of agitation in patients with dem entia, including the use of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, beta-adrene rgic-blocking agents, serotonergic agents, carbamazepine, and lithium.