Toolbox: Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

While antipsychotics have been used to treat psychosis or aggressive behaviors in dementia populations, they appear to have a high side effect profile that leads to high discontinuation rates.¹ Additionally, antipsychotics, as a class, carry a black box warning for use in the dementia population. Both CMS and APA have announced initiatives over the past two years to reduce the inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics in order to manage BPSD. Mood stabilizers may be considered as an alternative to neuroleptics. This table presents data on the efficacy of mood stabilizing drugs for the management of BPSD.

Table 1. Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

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