Studio osservazionale di pazienti dementi con disturbi psicotici e loro trattamento farmacologico: l’esperienza dello studio Ad Care

Observational study of demented patients with psychotic disorders and their pharmacological treatment: the Ad Care experience Aim: Alzheimer evaluation units are a focal point for individuals with cognitive impairment, which could be associated with behaviour disorders. More and more frequently, patients with cognitive deficits who have already been treated by specialists with antipsychotic medications are sent to us for a better diagnosis. Methods: In a period of 12 months, we observed 68 patients afferent for the first time to our Unit Alzheimer (UVA) with cognitive and/or behavioural deficits and based on a data registration sheet, drawn up by us, we obtained immediate information on patients who have already been treated with drugs and which drugs were used. Results: the patients’ data obtained with the SRD allowed us to promptly detect that the 5 subjects affected with Front temporal dementia (FTD) and 1 subject affected with Lewy Body disease already took typical and atypical antipsychotics. None of the 29 patients affected with Alzheimer Disease (AD) took acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, only three took antipsychotics and two took benzodiazepines. 4 out of 9 subject affected with vascular dementia (VaD) were treated with antipsychotics; 5 out of 23 subjects affected with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) took benzodiazepines and tow took antipsychotics Conclusion: A study of data collection extended systematically to all patients attending the UVA may be a tool for rapid use that would allow for a correct estimation of clinical treatment, the evaluation of the tolerability and effectiveness and eventual adverse effects by observing the single subjects in the progression of the disease or in the case of MCI, in the eventual evolution of the disease.