Zusammenfassung
The present article discusses the potential benefits and risks of use of neuroleptics in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia. Behavioral disturbances and psychosis are of high prevalence during dementia course and are the source of high burden in patients and their caregivers as well. When initiating neuroleptic pharmacotherapy individual assessment of ...
Zusammenfassung
The present article discusses the potential benefits and risks of use of neuroleptics in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia. Behavioral disturbances and psychosis are of high prevalence during dementia course and are the source of high burden in patients and their caregivers as well. When initiating neuroleptic pharmacotherapy individual assessment of comedication, comorbidities and clinical symptom analysis is essential. Neuroleptics belong by far to the best investigated psychopharmacologic drugs and are frequently prescribed to the elderly for a broad range of symptoms. They have distinct pharmacological profiles. Recent findings demonstrate that although neuroleptics are effective, their adverse event profile may limit their utility to patients with severe symptom presentation.