Evidence-Based Treatment and Prevention of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Alzheimer`s Disease

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common in people with Alzheimer`s Disease. They include agitation, aggression, psychosis, depression and sleep disturbance, and can cause great distress for the individual and their caregivers. Management of BPSD is particularly challenging due to the lack of effective pharmacological treatments, and current clinical guidance is complex. This chapter outlines the causes and impacts of BPSD in people with AD. In particular it explores the evidence supporting the use of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments and the role they play in the prevention and treatment of BPSD.

Keywords: Agitation, aggression, Alzheimer`s disease, antipsychotic, behavioural, depression, non-pharmacological, psychosis, sleep, treatment.