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Psychiatric Symptoms Associated with Dementia in Older People with Learning Disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Steve Moss  and
Pradip Patel
Steve Moss*
Affiliation:
Hester Adrian Research Centre, University of Manchester
Pradip Patel
Affiliation:
Community Healthcare Bolton, St Peter's House, Bolton BL1 1PP
*
Dr S. Moss, Hester Adrian Research Centre, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
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Abstract

Background

This paper describes a study of non-cognitive features of dementia in a population of 105 people over 50 years of age, with learning disability.

Method

The study involved psychiatric assessment using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD), a semi-structured psychiatric interview developed specifically for people who have learning disability. Dementia was diagnosed using a combination of informant interviewing and observation of cognitive change over a three year period.

Results

Sample members with definite dementia had higher levels of sleep difficulty, hypersomnia, irritability, inefficient thought, loss of interest and anhedonia. Discriminant function analysis showed that non-cognitive features could help discriminate between definite and probable cases.

Conclusions

Results support the previously reported observation for the general population that cognitive and non-cognitive features are only weakly related. The study suggests that psychiatric symptom information may be useful in screening for dementia in people with learning disability.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 5 , November 1995 , pp. 663 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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References

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