Objectives: We developed a disruptive behavior questionnaire designed for persons living close to the patient in order to assess behavior disorders in Alzheimer type dementia.
Methods: The study included 111 patients with criteria for diagnosis of Alzheimer type dementia. The questionnaire was used to assess the patients 15 days after withdrawal of psychotropic drugs. A partially-structured interview was also conducted by a psychiatrist in 20 cases.
Results: There was no relationship between the different behavior disorders and the mini-mental-state score or the social and cultural situation. Answers to the questionnaire and responses given during the interview were nearly identical.
Conclusion: There has been little effort to assess behavior disorders compared with cognitive disorders in patients with Alzheimer type dementia. Behavior assessment should be an integral part of patient evaluation since cognitive and non-cognitive disorders are independent and certain therapeutics may be effective in behavior disorders.