PMID- 35312139
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20221205
LR  - 20230411
IS  - 1741-6612 (Electronic)
IS  - 1440-6381 (Print)
IS  - 1440-6381 (Linking)
VI  - 41
IP  - 4
DP  - 2022 Dec
TI  - A retrospective study of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia 
      in patients admitted to a Specialist Dementia Care Unit.
PG  - e397-e405
LID - 10.1111/ajag.13060 [doi]
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the nature and severity of behavioural and psychological 
      symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and outcomes for patients admitted to a specialist 
      dementia care unit (SDCU) at a tertiary Australian hospital. METHODS: This 
      single-centre retrospective study categorised patients into a recognised 
      seven-tiered model of severity of BPSD using a novel tool developed for this 
      study. Descriptive characteristics, pharmacological management, and range and 
      severity of BPSD were examined. RESULTS: There were 125 patients admitted over a 
      two-year period reviewed, with 62% being males and a mean age of 82.4 years. 
      Those with high severity BPSD (n = 61, 49%) had a longer length of stay 
      (p = 0.049), were on a greater number of psychotropic medications on admission 
      (p < 0.001) and were more likely to be trialled on a new psychotropic medication 
      (p = 0.001). At least five behaviours on admission were demonstrated in 84% of 
      patients. Behaviours were ameliorated with reduction in tier severity at 
      discharge (p < 0.005). The mean number of psychotropic medications on admission 
      was not significantly different to discharge (p = 0.14). Sixty-seven per cent of 
      patients living independently at admission were discharged to residential care, 
      and 44% in residential care were discharged to a new facility. CONCLUSIONS: 
      Multi-disciplinary management led to optimisation of behaviours and overall 
      reduction in BPSD severity. This was achieved without a significant increase in 
      the use of psychotropic medications, highlighting the importance of an 
      individualised approach by a team skilled in the behavioural management of BPSD. 
      The study confirms the high risk of transition to residential care for patients 
      with BPSD.
CI  - (c) 2022 The Authors. Australasian Journal on Ageing published by John Wiley & Sons 
      Australia, Ltd on behalf of AJA Inc'.
FAU - Djekovic, Kate
AU  - Djekovic K
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-7566-722X
AD  - Department of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing 
      (CERA), Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia.
FAU - Clowes, Kim
AU  - Clowes K
AD  - Department of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing 
      (CERA), Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia.
FAU - Spalding, Natasha
AU  - Spalding N
AD  - Department of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing 
      (CERA), Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia.
FAU - Waite, Louise
AU  - Waite L
AD  - Department of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing 
      (CERA), Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia.
AD  - Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney 
      2006, Sydney, Australia.
LA  - eng
GR  - Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Sydney, as part of the 
      Wiley - The University of Sydney agreement via the Council of Australian 
      University Librarians./
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20220321
PL  - Australia
TA  - Australas J Ageing
JT  - Australasian journal on ageing
JID - 9808874
RN  - 0 (Psychotropic Drugs)
SB  - IM
MH  - Male
MH  - Humans
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Female
MH  - Retrospective Studies
MH  - *Dementia/therapy/drug therapy
MH  - Australia/epidemiology
MH  - Hospitalization
MH  - Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
PMC - PMC10078735
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - behaviour therapy
OT  - neurobehavioural signs and symptoms
OT  - psychotropic drugs
COIS- No conflicts of interest declared.
EDAT- 2022/03/22 06:00
MHDA- 2022/12/06 06:00
PMCR- 2023/04/06
CRDT- 2022/03/21 12:18
PHST- 2022/01/26 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2021/09/11 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2022/02/04 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2022/03/22 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2022/12/06 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2022/03/21 12:18 [entrez]
PHST- 2023/04/06 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - AJAG13060 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/ajag.13060 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Australas J Ageing. 2022 Dec;41(4):e397-e405. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13060. Epub 2022 
      Mar 21.