Behavioral Symptoms in Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorder

Major Neurocognitive Disorder is the new diagnostic category introduced in DSM 5. This subsumes the popular term "dementia". Major Neurocognitive Disorder presents with impairment in at least one cognitive domain along with impairment in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Almost all cases of dementia develops Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms (BPSD) at some point during the course of illness. BPSD interferes with the independence of the patients and thus causes impairment in quality of life. This further increases cost of treatment, need for hospitalization and caregiver burden. In this book we tried to identify and estimate the prevalence of behavioral symptom patterns in the major etiological types of dementia viz Alzheimer's disease and Vascular dementia. We also find the correlation among cognitive decline, behavioral symptoms and independence in the daily living at a time. We hope, this book will be useful for busy clinicians and other people working in the area of dementia care.