Functional Outcome in Delusional Alzheimer Disease Patients : A Systematic Review

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 105 - 110
• Main Authors: FISCHER, Corinne E, VERHOEFF, Nicolaas P. L. G, CHURCHILL, Katie, SCHWEIZER, Tom A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Karger 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Alzheimer Disease - complications; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Databases, Factual; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Delusions - etiology; Delusions - psychology; Humans; Medical sciences; Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Neuroprotective agent; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Treatment Outcome; Human; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Cognitive disorder; Alzheimer disease; Daily living; Delusions; Delusion; Cerebral disorder; Psychosis; Function; Activities of daily living, independent; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Elderly; Alzheimer's disease; Dementia
• ISSN: 1420-8008; 1421-9824
• DOI: 10.1159/000194659

In spite of the prevalence of delusions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their association with poor outcomes, there has been little study of the impact of delusions on real-world functioning. A number of databases, including Psychlit and Medline, were searched using the keywords: delusions, functional outcomes, activities of daily living, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Studies were included in the review if they were in English, restricted to patients with AD, and addressed delusions and function. The review yielded a total of 6 studies, 3 of which showed a correlation between delusions and real-world functioning and 3 of which did not. A critical analysis of the existing studies suggests that there may be an association between delusions and impaired real-world functioning. We believe that 2 of the 3 negative studies did not show an association due to issues relating to study design and the use of measures insensitive to executive impairment. This review highlights the future need for more scientifically rigorous studies to clarify this association, so as to ultimately improve treatment outcomes for patients.