Psychiatric symptoms of dementia among elderly people with learning disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of psychiatric symptoms among elderly people with learning disabilities who have dementia.

DESIGN

Survey.

SETTING

The general community of a county in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS

The whole population of people with learning disabilities who were 65 years or over. The total population was 143, of whom 134 participated (93.7%). From the total population, those with dementia were determined (N = 29).

MEASURES

Description of psychopathology, using a semi-structured psychiatric rating scale.

RESULTS

Psychotic symptoms occurred in 27.6%, with the most common types being delusions of thefts, other persecutory delusions and visual hallucinations of strangers in the house. The onset of other psychiatric symptoms as part of the dementia was also common, in particular changed sleep pattern, loss of concentration, worry, reduced quantity of speech, change in appetite and onset of or increase in aggression.

CONCLUSIONS

People with leaming disabilities are living longer, and so the number with dementia is rising. Psychiatric symptoms occur commonly in dementia, can cause significant distress and require recognition, understanding and the development of effective managements.