Dementia
Dementia is a deterioration of cognitive functions such as memory as is familiar to most of us. It is however most debilitating because of the deterioration of other brain functions including organizational and practical skills of daily life and the ability to communicate. Significantly many people with dementia will also develop disturbances of mood and behavior that can be complicated to diagnose accurately and quite disabling. Behavioral problems are a common reason for psychiatric consultation and are often a major concern as moderate to severely demented individuals are so dependent on their caregivers that agitation, aggression or wandering can trigger major changes in living arrangements and safety. We often use antipsychotic medications to stabilize demented individuals for whom we find no new medical cause of alteration in mental state. There are well documented risks of using antipsychotic medications for these purposes though if used appropriately and carefully supervised the risks are outweighed by the benefits. Some thoughtful reviews are available.
Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Atypical… (PDF)
Effectiveness of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs… (PDF)