Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate in old-age dementias: a factor-analytic study of change in psychopathologic symptoms

In a multicenter clinical trial, two dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate were compared in patients with primary degenerative dementia and multi-infarct dementia. Psychopathologic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). A factor analysis of this scale revealed four factors in this population. During the clinical trial, significant improvements were noted on the primary BPRS factor (i.e. depressive withdrawal), as well as on total BPRS score. There was a tendency for greater improvement in the primary degenerative dementia group than in the multi-infarct dementia group.