Dementia Neuropsychiatric Symptom Frequency, Severity, and Correlates in Community-Dwelling Thai Older Adults

• Published in: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry 2022-08, Vol.30 (8), p.883-891
• Main Authors: Hinton, Ladson, Wang, Kaipeng, Levkoff, Sue, Chuengsatiansup, Komatra, Sihapark, Siranee, Krisanaprakornkit, Thawatchai, Intasuwan, Pariyasoot, Satthapisit, Sirina, Gallagher-Thompson, Dolores, Chen, Hongtu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregiving; Dementia; Non-pharmacological interventions; Thailand
• ISSN: 1064-7481; 1545-7214
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2022.05.005

•What is the primary question addressed by this study?—The primary purpose is to examine the frequency and correlates of dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among community-dwelling Thai older adults participating in a clinical trial.•What is the main finding of this study?—Our study found that NPS, including psychotic symptoms, are common among community-dwelling people with dementia (PWD) in Thailand. We found that NPS are associated with functional disability in the PWD and increased family caregiver distress and caregiving burden.•What is the meaning of the finding?—These findings highlight the clinical importance of NPS among Thai older adults and their potentially negative impacts on family caregivers. Thailand is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older people with dementia (PWD). We examined the frequency, severity, and correlates of dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among community-dwelling Thai older adults. This study was based on analysis of baseline data from a larger clinical trial comparing two different implementation approaches of an evidence-based exercise intervention for people with dementia. To be eligible, participants needed to be age 60 and above, have probable dementia, have one or more NPS, be ambulatory, and have an adult (age 18+) family caregiver. In the 353 eligible participants, we examined the correlation between NPS severity and caregiver distress (assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire or NPI-Q) and used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to examine associations between PWD and caregiver characteristics and NPS severity. NPS frequency varied from 18% for appetite and/or eating changes to 42% for delusions. NPS severity was significantly (p