Assessment and Management of Dementia-Related Agitation

AbstractPurpose of ReviewAgitation is a serious complication of dementia for many patients and can be a challenging clinical problem for medical providers. With the information provided in this review, it is hoped that readers are equipped with up-to-date knowledge to implement effective treatments for their patients with this significant medical problem.Recent FindingsThis review provides an overview of the assessment and management of dementia-related agitation, including nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches. These include guidelines on antipsychotic use in patients with dementia, two recently published medication algorithms, and research on agents such as prazosin, nabilone, and gabapentin. Overall, findings are mixed but promising, and a framework to guide providers exists to effectively treat dementia-related agitation.SummaryWhile evidence is mixed and there is variability in published recommendations, broad principles can be applied. These include a careful assessment and systematic approach towards nonpharmacologic interventions, as well as balancing benefit, risk, and patient goals of care in medication decision-making. Treatment for dementia-related agitation also continues to be a field of active research, with promising directions to further guide future practice.
Source: Current Geriatrics Reports - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research