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Challenges of Agitation in Dementia: A Plea for Early Discussion

Richler, Leah G
Shimizu, Mariko
Huang, Hsiang
Kester, Rachel
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UMass Chan Affiliations
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Case Report
Publication Date
2023-01-01
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Abstract

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur frequently among people with dementia and are known precipitants for placement in care facilities. Despite the social, financial, and psychological impact on dementia care, education and discussions on BPSD have not been routinely included in advance care planning (ACP). As a result, families can face great challenges in making complex medical decisions when their loved ones are admitted to the geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit with refractory BPSD. We present the case of an 83-year-old gentleman with BPSD to illustrate universal struggles in dementia care experienced by many families, which could have been alleviated by education and discussions around BPSD earlier in the patient's dementia course. A literature search did not yield any articles that mention discussions of BPSD in ACP. The lack of literature referencing BPSD in ACP supports our clinical experiences with the case and highlights the need for improvement in current dementia care. We propose a guideline for providers to facilitate conversations around BPSD as an integral part of ACP, including discussions of four key points related to the progressive nature of dementia, the commonality of BPSD, the lack of FDA-approved treatment for BPSD, and the difficulty in balancing agitation and sedation to allow safe placement. We firmly believe it is important to start discussion on BPSD as part of ACP as early as possible. Early education and discussion will help to facilitate meaningful care decisions as patients and families navigate the challenges associated with this progressive disease.

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Richler LG, Shimizu M, Huang H, Kester R. Challenges of Agitation in Dementia: A Plea for Early Discussion. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2023 Jan-Feb 01;31(1):22-27. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000352. PMID: 36608080; PMCID: PMC9855747.

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10.1097/HRP.0000000000000352
PubMed ID
36608080
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Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the President and Fellows of Harvard College. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND), where it is permissi- ble to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International