Psychiatry Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2016
Journal
International psychogeriatrics / IPA
Volume
28
Issue
5
First Page
869
Last Page
871
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1017/S1041610215001866
Abstract
The prevalence of dementia continues to grow worldwide due to an aging population and is projected to affect 65.7 million people by 2030 (World Health Organization, 2012). Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including agitation, anxiety, aggression, depression, and psychosis, can occur in as much as 80% of the affected population, frequently necessitating psychiatric admission. Traditionally BPSD have been treated using pharmacological approaches. However, such medications could have serious adverse effects and additionally have limited efficacy in reducing such symptoms (Ballard et al., 2009).
