Management of behavioral complications of dementia.

The behavioral and psychotic complications of dementia are common clinical problems, requiring a review of past psychiatric diagnosis, as well as medical differential diagnosis to uncover potentially treatable causes. Behavioral factors can play an important contributing role and behavioral interventions can sometimes significantly improve or reduce symptoms' emergence. Psychotropic medications when properly selected and monitored can significantly reduce agitated behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with dementia and may have very positive impact on a patient's quality of life, a family's ability to manage patients in the community, and a resident's nursing home management.