VARIATION IN PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEMENTIA - DATA FROM PHYSICIANS EXAMINATIONS AND INFORMANTS REPORTS

An investigation was carried out of psychiatric and behavioural sympto ms in non-demented and demented subjects derived from a population stu dy of the very elderly. Information on psychiatric and behavioural sym ptoms came from two independent sources: a physician's examination and an interview with an informant. The symptoms were grouped into cluste rs using principal-components analysis. Little agreement was found bet ween the two sources of information on symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychosis. However, there was agreement about an increase in inac tivity symptoms as the severity of dementia increased.