Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
Short definition
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are disturbances of perception, thought, mood or behaviour that frequently occur in people with dementia.
In plain language
They include agitation, aggression, apathy, anxiety, depression, delusions, hallucinations, wandering and sleep disturbances. They greatly affect the person's quality of life and the burden on those who care for them. Clinical guidelines generally recommend first identifying causes and using non-pharmacological approaches, reserving antipsychotics for specific situations.