Behavioral disturbances in geropsychiatric inpatients across demential types

The objective of this study was to compare differences in behavioral, psych iatric, and cognitive status among geropsychiatric inpatients with Alzheime r's, vascular, alcohol-induced, and mixed dementia. Participants included 1 50 patients with dementia consecutively admitted to an acute geropsychiatri c inpatient unit. Measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Cohe n-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, Basic and Independent Activities of Daily Living, Positive and Negative Syndrome Sca le for Schizophrenia, and the Initiation/Perseveration subscale of the Deme ntia Rating Scale. No significant differences existed in the character or s everity of agitation among patients with Alzheimer's, vascular, alcohol-rel ated and mixed dementia. Interestingly, patients with vascular dementia com pared to patients with other dementias admitted for behavioral disturbances were less cognitively impaired and more medically burdened.