[Psychopathology of senile dementias in nursing home residents]

Examination of 163 nursing home residents revealed chronic brain syndrome of different amount in 84%. Demented patients with clinical evidence of arteriosclerosis had significantly higher values of emotional incontinence, dysphoria, depression and vegetative complaints than those without evidence of arteriosclerosis. Correlation of single psychopathologic parameters with other psychopathologic, neurologic and somatic variables resulted in very different correlation profiles for the following symptoms: emotional incontinence, apathy, dysphoria and euphoria. These changes in personality should be considered to a higher degree in dementia research intending more homogeneous subgroups.