Repetitive phenomena in dementia

Objective: Both repetitive talk and behaviors (repetitive phenomena) are co mmon in demented patients and are bothersome to their caregivers and famili es. The purpose of this preliminary report was to explore these repetitive phenomena in demented patients admitted to a geropsychiatric ward. Method: The sample population consisted of 141 demented patients. Patients' caregiv ers were asked if patients had presented a repetitive fixed pattern of phys ical action or talk since the onset of dementia. Results: Of the 141 dement ed patients included in the study, seventy-nine had repetitive phenomena. P atients with these phenomena had various presentations and developed them i n the early stage of dementia. Conclusions: Repetitive phenomena are widesp read in dementia, especially for older patients, and may be an early sign o f dementia. The characteristics of repetitive phenomena and some likely und erlying mechanisms are discussed.