Citation

Kat MG, Zuidema SU, van der Ploeg T, Kalisvaart KJ, van Gool WA, Eikelenboom P, de Jonghe JF. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 2008; 23(10): 1014-1019.

Affiliation

Medical Center Alkmaar, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Alkmaar, The Netherlands. psykat@hetnet.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/gps.2026

PMID

18425989

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study psychiatric consultation referrals of nursing home patients with dementia and to compare referral reasons with normative data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. METHODS: This is part of a cross-sectional study of 787 patients residing in 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Nursing home physicians (NHP) noted the primary reasons for psychiatric consultation according to the Neuropsychiatric Inventory items and two extra domains. Patients were subsequently assessed by an old-age psychiatrist. Eligible patients were those that had dementia. Reasons for referral were compared with independent data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in nursing home patients with dementia. RESULTS: A total of 325/787 (41.3%) patients had dementia. Agitation, disinhibition and aberrant motor behaviour were frequent reasons for referral (>25%). Psychotic symptoms, apathy and eating behaviour changes were infrequent reasons (<10%) for seeking consultation. Agitation and disinhibition were more often primary reasons for consultation than would have been expected based on normative prevalence estimates of these symptoms. In contrast, delusions, euphoria, apathy, irritability and eating behaviour changes were less often reasons for referral compared with prevalence estimates. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to examine psychiatric consultation for dementia patients in Dutch nursing home. Large differences exist between referral reasons and normative data on symptom prevalence. Specialized mental health service was provided for the agitated and disinhibited patient in particular. Chances are that this is at the expense of the apathetic, retarded and quietly 'not causing any trouble' patient.

Language: en