Diagnostic and Management Strategies for Common Neurobehavioral and Psychiatric Disturbances Among Patients with Cognitive Impairment and the Dementias

Akashleena Mallick; Alessandro Biffi

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2022.08.004

Diagnostic and Management Strategies for Common Neurobehavioral and Psychiatric Disturbances Among Patients with Cognitive Impairment and the Dementias

Clin Geriatr Med. 2023 Feb;39(1):161-175. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.08.004. Epub 2022 Oct 18.

Authors

Akashleena Mallick¹, Alessandro Biffi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, 100 Cambridge Street, Room 2054, Boston, MA 02144, USA.
² Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, 100 Cambridge Street, Room 2054, Boston, MA 02144, USA. Electronic address: abiffi@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 36404029
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.08.004

Abstract

Neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms are highly prevalent among individuals diagnosed with cognitive impairment or dementia and impact the quality of life for patients and caregivers alike. Diagnosis and management of these conditions (including primarily depression, anxiety, apathy, psychosis, agitation, and aggression) is crucial to optimal patient care outcomes in clinical practice. The present article provides a practical review of diagnostic approaches and management strategies for behavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders arising in patients with cognitive impairment, up to and including dementia.

Keywords: Behavioral neurology; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Neuropsychiatry; Psychopharmacology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cognitive Dysfunction* / diagnosis
Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / therapy
Dementia* / complications
Dementia* / diagnosis
Dementia* / therapy
Humans
Problem Behavior*
Psychotic Disorders* / complications
Psychotic Disorders* / diagnosis
Psychotic Disorders* / therapy
Quality of Life