Pharmacological treatment of challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia

Abstract

Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia can be challenging to patient and carers, and affect the majority of people with dementia at some stage. Symptoms including agitation, aggression, and psychosis may respond to non-pharmacological therapy. If pharmacotherapy is required the family and carers should be informed and involved in defining treatment goals and monitoring progress. The best current evidence is for atypical antipsychotics with two randomised controlled trials supporting the use of risperidone. However, there are concerns about an increased risk of stroke and death from atypical antipsychotics. Other drug classes have less supportive evidence for efficacy, but may be appropriate f..