1st February 2024

Clinical presentation

• These are symptoms in addition to the core symptoms of dementia
• Symptoms present for at least 1 month 
• Symptoms are severe enough to cause disruption in patient’s and or in others’ function

Behavioural symptoms

• Anxiety- pacing, being on the go, fidgety, fear of being alone, Godot syndrome (repeatedly questioning), irritability and resisting care
• Agitation
  • Physical aggression- hitting, pinching, punching, biting, scratching, kicking, fighting, pushing and restless
  • Verbal aggression- screaming, anger outbursts, being bossy, making loud noises, repeated vocalisation, making irrelevant comments, cursing, arguing and complaining
• Altered circadian rhythm
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Day and night reversal
• Wandering
• Impulsive behaviour
• Poor insight and poor judgement
• Catastrophic reactions
  • Sudden excessive emotional response or physical behaviour
• Disinhibited behaviour
  • Socially inappropriate
  • Sexualised behaviour
  • Dressing inappropriately

Psychological symptoms

• Psychosis
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Delusions- paranoid and persecutory
  • No psychosis in the past usually
  • No other causes for psychotic symptoms
  • No criteria met regarding delirium
• Depression
  • Self-pity
  • Anhedonia
  • Psychomotor disturbances
  • Lack of initiative and motivation
  • Low mood and poor energy
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Withdrawn
  • Poor diet and self-care
  • Crying spells