Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients With Dementia: Do Caregivers and Doctors See the Same Thing?

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in Alzheimer Disease (AD). Treatment could be optimized by supplementing the clinician's impression of a patient with information from the caregiver. Yet the agreement between caregivers and physicians on the presence of NPS in patients with AD is understudied.

Data were obtained from a 2-staged survey in neurology outpatient offices. At stage 1, patients (n=403) were documented by their physicians, including an assessment on the presence of NPS. At stage 2, patients' CGs (n=171) were asked about the presence of NPS in the patients, based on questions from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Caregivers were screened for depression with the Depression Screening Questionnaire.

The study sample comprised patients with mild or moderate AD.

NPS frequency varied between 52.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 44.9%-60.3%] and 67.2% (95% CI, 59.7%-74.2%, reported by CGs) and 34.2% (95% CI, 26.8%-42.1%) and 50.9% (95% CI, 42.9%-58.9%, reported by physicians). Apathy, depression, aggression, and irritability occurred most frequently according to both sources. κ values were lowest for euphoria (κ=0.03; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.25), and highest for depression (κ=0.26; 95% CI, 0.11-0.43). CG depression was associated with an increased probability (odds ratio=2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-6.7) of disagreement between caregivers and physicians on the patient's mental status.

NPS, though very prevalent in dementia patients, are perceived differently by caregivers and physicians. This divergence increases depending on the psychological health of caregivers.