CLUSTERING OF BEHAVIOURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN DEMENTIA (BPSD): A EUROPEAN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE CONSORTIUM (EADC) STUDY

AbstractObjectives. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).Methods. We recruited 194 patients with dementia from the memory clinic practice of six European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium centres. BPSD were assessed using a pre-designed questionnaire comprising the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). BPSD scores were analysed by Spearman’s correlation analysis and principal components factor analysis. Results were confirmed by performing Varimax rotation of the factors.Results. The NPI symptoms occurred very frequently: 96% of the patients displayed at least one symptom. Among them, apathy (59.6%) and depression (58.5%) were the most common abnormalities, followed by irritability (44.6%), anxiety (44%) and agitation (41.5%). Four NPIbased factors were identified (58% of the common variance): psychosis factor (irritability, agitation, hallucinations and anxiety), psychomotor factor (aberrant motor behaviour and delusions), mo...