Psychopathology in dementia

Abstract

The purpose of this overview is to describe the psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia reported in the professional literature in recent years. This subject, a relatively neglected one, is considered in order to focus attention on a number of the symptoms most troublesome to the demented person's surroundings which lead to his/her hospitalization, with all the implications this has on the patients, their families and the community's health budget. To carry out an early and effective intervention, professionals need to define and recognize these symptoms and gain experience in treating them, either by intervention in the environment or by medication. This survey attempts to examine the state of the art in this field, while analyzing the difficulties that emerge in studying it.