Gaining Clarity in Dementia-Related Psychosis: Best Practices and Emerging Strategies for Diagnosis and Management

Target Audience
This activity intends to provide education for psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, social workers, and psychologists caring for patients with dementia-related psychosis (DRP).

Program Overview
Among patients with dementias (including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and frontotemporal dementia), between 15% and 75% experience symptoms of psychosis. Patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, including DRP, are at risk of adverse outcomes such as accelerated disability and mortality, lower quality of life for both patients and their caregivers, and earlier institutionalization. The root cause of symptoms of psychosis in patients with dementias should always be investigated. Management of DRP includes nonpharmacologic interventions first, followed by pharmacologic treatment when symptoms are severe, dangerous, or distressing to the patient. Some antipsychotic treatment options are safer and more effective than others, as outlined in the Beers criteria and as described in the literature and in presentations of recent clinical trial data. The desired results of this activity are for psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, social workers, and psychologists to recognize psychosis as part of the neurodegenerative process in dementia and to treat symptoms effectively while maintaining safety and quality of life of patients.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Apply best practices in assessment and diagnosis of DRP
Interpret recent clinical trial data for the treatment of DRP
Develop evidence-based, safe treatment plans for persons with DRP