Association of premorbid personality with behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies: Comparison with Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the relation between premorbid personality traits and behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Methods: Forty-one DLB patients and 98 AD patients were assessed for BPSD using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Each patient's midlife personality traits were rated by a family member using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire.

Results: In multiple regression analyses for DLB patients, NPI total score and anxiety were significantly associated with premorbid openness, delusion with premorbid agreeableness, and agitation with premorbid conscientiousness. In AD patients, depression was significantly associated with premorbid neuroticism, and agitation, apathy, and irritability with premorbid agreeableness.

Conclusion: Premorbid personalities affected BPSD differently in DLB and AD. Given the differences in the effects of premorbid personalities on BPSD, additional studies are needed to develop interventions to reduce these symptoms.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Neuropsychiatric Inventory; behavioral/psychological symptoms in dementia; dementia with Lewy bodies; premorbid personality.