HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cook, S. E. Articles by Sweet, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cook, S. E. Articles by Sweet, R. A.

Psychotic Symptoms in Alzheimer Disease

Evidence for Subtypes

Received May 30, 2002; revised October 25, 2002, February 26, 2003; accepted March 13, 2003. From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (SEC,SB,GP,VLN,STD,RAS), the Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (SM,SRW), and the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (OLL,DIK,STD). Address correspondence to Robert A. Sweet, M.D., Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. e-mail: sweetra{at}upmc.edu

Objective: Psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer disease (AD) identify a phenotype with distinct neurobiology and genetic architecture. The authors investigated whether AD with psychosis is homogeneous or is a composite of subtypes. Methods: Authors performed factor and cluster analyses of the psychotic-symptom items of the CERAD Behavioral Rating Scale in 188 probable and possible AD subjects who have displayed at least one psychotic symptom. Results: Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a one-factor solution that comprised misidentification delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, and the misidentification of people. Persecutory delusions were also frequently present and were independent of the misidentification/hallucination factor. Cluster analysis yielded similar results. Conclusion: Misidentification/hallucinations and persecutory delusions may identify two subtypes of psychosis in AD. Longitudinal study is needed to determine whether these proposed subtypes remain stable and independent over time or merge into a single group over the course of illness.

Key Words: psychosis • Alzheimer disease

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Jalbert, L. A. Daiello, and K. L. Lapane Dementia of the Alzheimer Type Epidemiol. Rev., July 16, 2008; (2008) mxn008v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Nagahama, T. Okina, N. Suzuki, M. Matsuda, K. Fukao, and T. Murai Classification of Psychotic Symptoms in Dementia With Lewy Bodies Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, November 1, 2007; 15(11): 961 - 967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Mizrahi, S. E. Starkstein, R. Jorge, and R. G. Robinson Phenomenology and Clinical Correlates of Delusions in Alzheimer Disease Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, July 1, 2006; 14(7): 573 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Wilkosz, S. Miyahara, O. L. Lopez, S. T. DeKosky, and R. A. Sweet Prediction of Psychosis Onset in Alzheimer Disease: The Role of Cognitive Impairment, Depressive Symptoms, and Further Evidence for Psychosis Subtypes Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, April 1, 2006; 14(4): 352 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Perez-Madrinan, S. E. Cook, J. A. Saxton, S. Miyahara, O. L. Lopez, D. I. Kaufer, H. J. Aizenstein, S. T. DeKosky, and R. A. Sweet Alzheimer Disease With Psychosis: Excess Cognitive Impairment Is Restricted to the Misidentification Subtype Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, October 1, 2004; 12(5): 449 - 456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. E. Tune Great Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2003; 11(4): 388 - 390. [Full Text] [PDF]