Research Division,Institute of Mental Health,Singapore.
Changi General Hospital,Singapore.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2017 Aug;29(8):1363-1376. doi: 10.1017/S1041610217000564. Epub 2017 Apr 18.
This study assessed the prevalence and factor structure of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in a community-based sample of older adults with dementia and identified their correlates.
Data collected from 399 Singapore residents with dementia aged 60 years and above, interviewed along with a family/friend during a national survey, were used for this analysis. Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire assessed older adults' BPSD. Other data included socio-demographics, dementia severity, cognition, chronic physical conditions, disability, and caregivers' burden. Exploratory factor analysis assessed BPSD sub-groups, factor scores of which were used to identify socio-demographic, and clinical correlates.
Prevalence of BPSD was 67.9% and 30% of the population had experienced three or more BPSD in the past month. Two distinct and moderately correlated symptom groups representing "psychosis and behavior dysregulation" and "mood disturbance and restlessness" were identified. As factor scores for both the groups increased with older age, poor cognition and caregiver burden, the former was also related to being never married and having no formal education.
Study provides evidence of two distinct groups of BPSD and their important correlates. Clinicians treating BPSD should consider their age and cognitive impairment and be cognizant of their caregivers' burden.
本研究评估了社区老年痴呆症患者中行为和心理症状的发生率和因素结构（BPSD），并确定了其相关因素。
本研究使用了 399 名新加坡 60 岁及以上的痴呆症患者的数据，这些数据是在全国性调查中与患者的家属/朋友一起收集的。神经精神病学问卷评估了老年人的 BPSD。其他数据包括社会人口统计学、痴呆症严重程度、认知能力、慢性身体状况、残疾和照顾者的负担。探索性因素分析评估了 BPSD 的亚组，使用亚组的因子得分来确定社会人口统计学和临床相关因素。
BPSD 的发生率为 67.9%，有 30%的人群在过去一个月中经历了三种或更多的 BPSD。确定了两个不同且中度相关的症状群，代表“精神病和行为失调”和“情绪障碍和不安”。随着两个群体的因子得分随着年龄的增长、认知能力下降和照顾者负担的增加而增加，前者还与从未结婚和没有正规教育有关。
本研究为 BPSD 的两个不同群体及其重要相关因素提供了证据。治疗 BPSD 的临床医生应考虑到他们的年龄和认知障碍，并注意他们的照顾者的负担。
