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Cressot C, Vrillon A, Lilamand M, Francisque H, Méauzoone A, Hourregue C, Dumurgier J, Marlinge E, Paquet C, Cognat E. Psychosis in Neurodegenerative Dementias: A Systematic Comparative Review. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:85-99. [PMID: 38669539 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Psychosis, characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations, is frequently observed during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative dementias (ND) (i.e., dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)) and cause diagnostic and management difficulties. Objective This review aims at presenting a concise and up-to-date overview of psychotic symptoms that occur in patients with ND with a comparative approach. Methods A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. 98 original studies investigating psychosis phenotypes in neurodegenerative dementias were identified (40 cohort studies, 57 case reports). Results Psychosis is a frequently observed phenomenon during the course of ND, with reported prevalence ranging from 22.5% to 54.1% in AD, 55.9% to 73.9% in DLB, and 18% to 42% in FTD. Throughout all stages of these diseases, noticeable patterns emerge depending on their underlying causes. Misidentification delusions (16.6-78.3%) and visual hallucinations (50-69.6%) are frequently observed in DLB, while paranoid ideas and somatic preoccupations seem to be particularly common in AD and FTD, (respectively 9.1-60.3% and 3.10-41.5%). Limited data were found regarding psychosis in the early stages of these disorders. Conclusions Literature data suggest that different ND are associated with noticeable variations in psychotic phenotypes, reflecting disease-specific tendencies. Further studies focusing on the early stages of these disorders are necessary to enhance our understanding of early psychotic manifestations associated with ND and help in differential diagnosis issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Cressot
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Agathe Vrillon
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu Lilamand
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Service de Gériatrie, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Hélène Francisque
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Méauzoone
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Claire Hourregue
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Julien Dumurgier
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Marlinge
- Département de Psychiatrie, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Claire Paquet
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Cognat
- Université Paris Cité, UMRS 1144, INSERM, Paris, France
- Centre de Neurologie Cognitive, AP-HP.Nord, Site Lariboisière Fernand-Widal, Paris, France
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Accelerated atrophy in dopaminergic targets and medial temporo-parietal regions precedes the onset of delusions in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:229-241. [PMID: 35554669 PMCID: PMC9958148 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01417-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
People with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and delusions have worse quality of life and prognosis. However, early markers of delusions have not been identified yet. The present study investigated whether there are any detectable differences in grey matter (GM) volume and cognitive changes in the year before symptom onset between patients with AD who did and did not develop delusions. Two matched samples of AD patients, 63 who did (PT-D) and 63 who did not develop delusions (PT-ND) over 1 year, were identified from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used to assess the presence of delusions. Sixty-three additional matched healthy controls (HC) were selected. Repeated-measures ANCOVA models were used to investigate group-by-time effects on the volume of selected GM regions of interest and on cognitive performance. No neurocognitive differences were observed between patient groups prior to symptom onset. Greater episodic memory decline and GM loss in bilateral caudate nuclei, medio-temporal and midline cingulo-parietal regions were found in the PT-D compared with the PT-ND group. A pattern of faster GM loss in brain areas typically affected by AD and in cortical and subcortical targets of dopaminergic pathways, paralleled by worsening of episodic memory and behavioural symptoms, may explain the emergence of delusions in patients with AD.
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D'Antonio F, Di Vita A, Zazzaro G, Canevelli M, Trebbastoni A, Campanelli A, Ferracuti S, de Lena C, Guariglia C, Boccia M. Cortical complexity alterations in the medial temporal lobe are associated with Alzheimer's disease psychosis. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2022; 29:1022-1032. [PMID: 34294005 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2021.1958139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Psychosis is frequent in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it is associated with a worse disease course. AD psychosis may represent a distinct AD phenotype, though its specific neurobiological underpinnings have yet to be identified. This study investigated neural underpinnings of AD psychosis using surface-based-morphometry.Data from 32 AD patients, 17 with psychosis (AD-P) and 15 without were analyzed. Average cortical complexity (fractal dimension, FD) was estimated for each theoretically motivated ROI and patient. First, we compared regional FD in AD-P and AD patients. Then we calculated the correlation coefficients between FD and the severity of misidentification and paranoid psychotic symptoms. AD-P showed decreased FD in ventral-visual-stream compared to AD, suggesting that perceptual processes might be pivotal in psychosis. A negative correlation was found between misidentification severity and FD in the entorhinal cortex suggesting that misidentification may be specifically associated with alterations in regions involved in high-level perceptual and contextualization processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia D'Antonio
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Di Vita
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Zazzaro
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Canevelli
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefano Ferracuti
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo de Lena
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Guariglia
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Boccia
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Cappelletto P, Polito C, Berti V, Lombardi G, Lucidi G, Bessi V, Sorbi S, Ferrari C. Behavioural disorders in Alzheimer's disease: the descriptive and predictive role of brain 18 F-fluorodesoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. Psychogeriatrics 2021; 21:514-520. [PMID: 33881215 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a high incidence in the elderly. Besides cognitive disorders, patients may also develop behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which can be particularly disabling for patients and families. BPSD encompass a wide range of symptoms, among which psychotic symptoms and disruptive behaviours often prompt the first related hospitalization and request for family support. The aetiological mechanism of BPSD has not yet been clarified, and no predictive or risk factors have been identified. The main objectives of our study are to describe the frequency of aggression/agitation and psychotic symptoms, defined 'positive BPSD', in a cohort of 60 AD patients, identify areas of the brain involved in behavioural symptomatology through brain 18 F-fluorodesoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and investigate a potential predictive role of brain FDG-PET in BPSD development. METHODS A cohort of 60 AD patients was retrospectively enrolled and regularly followed for at least 3 years. Each subject underwent brain FDG-PET at the time of diagnosis. Patients were divided into three groups based on the presence of behavioural disturbances: present, absent, and developed later. RESULTS Of the 60 AD patients in the cohort, 52% had positive BPSD: 17 at baseline and 14 during the 3-year follow-up. FDG-PET identified an association between hypometabolism in the bilateral temporal lobes and the presence of BPSD, and showed initial hypometabolism in the postero-temporal lobes 3 years before symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS Positive BPSD are frequently manifested in AD. Our study identified the temporal lobes as the neurobiological substrate of positive BPSD and FDG-PET as a potential instument to predict their developement. Temporal lobes are involved in processing facial expression and recognizing emotions; an impairment of these functions could cause delusions and agitated/aggressive behaviour. To confirm the potential predictive role of FDG-PET in the onset of BPSD in AD, further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Cappelletto
- Department of Pediatric Neurology Unit and Laboratories, A. Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Polito
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Berti
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Lucidi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Bessi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Camilla Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Castelluccio BC, Malloy PF, McLaughlin NCR. Neuropsychological features of delusions in hospitalized older adults with neurocognitive disorders. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2020; 42:941-951. [PMID: 33054577 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2020.1827223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) frequently experience psychotic symptoms, such as delusions. Delusions can contribute to other behavior problems, create dangers for patients and caregivers, and contribute to inpatient hospitalization of individuals with NCD. The current study aimed to identify cognitive symptoms associated with the presence of delusions and to differentiate delusion types based on cognitive profiles among hospitalized older adults with NCD. A review of electronic medical records of hospitalized older adults from an inpatient geriatric psychiatry setting yielded 185 patients with a diagnosis of mild or major NCD who had a neuropsychological evaluation during their admission and whose documentation described a clear delusion. We identified a comparison group of 185 patients without delusions well matched for age, education, and sex, and similar in global cognitive status. Exclusion criteria included delirium and history of a psychotic disorder. We first compared the groups' performances on a dementia battery. Then, cognitive performances of subgroups with specific delusion types (harm, theft, jealousy, and misidentification) were each compared to the remainder of the delusion-positive group. Exploratory analyses revealed that the delusion-positive group had a greater rate of discontinuation on Trails B and performed worse than the delusion-negative group on Trails A, Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale, Semantic Fluency, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) initial registration. Theft delusions were associated with worse performance on HVLT-R recognition, misidentification delusions were associated with worse performance on Trails B, and harm delusions were associated with worse performance on a verbal generativity test. The presence of delusions in hospitalized older adults with NCD was associated with worse performance on several cognitive tasks with many being suggestive of associated with frontal-subcortical network integrity. Delusions of theft may be a consequence of reduced integrity of medial temporal lobe memory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Castelluccio
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University , Providence, RI, USA
| | - Paul F Malloy
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University , Providence, RI, USA
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6
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Qian W, Schweizer TA, Churchill NW, Millikin C, Ismail Z, Smith EE, Lix LM, Munoz DG, Barfett JJ, Rajji TK, Fischer CE. Gray Matter Changes Associated With the Development of Delusions in Alzheimer Disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 27:490-498. [PMID: 30503703 PMCID: PMC6777551 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Delusions affect approximately a third of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and are associated with poor outcomes. Previous studies investigating the neuroanatomic correlates of delusions have yet to reach a consensus, with findings of reduced volume across all lobes, particularly in frontal regions. The current study examined the gray matter (GM) differences associated with delusions in AD. METHODS Using voxel-based morphometry, we assessed GM in 23 AD patients who developed delusions (AD+D) and 36 comparable AD patients who did not (AD-D) at baseline and follow-up. Analysis of variance was used to identify consistent differences between AD+D and AD-D patients across time points (main effect of group), consistent changes from baseline to follow-up (main effect of time), and differential changes between AD+D and AD-D over time (interaction of group and time). All data were obtained from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database. RESULTS The AD+D group had consistently lower frontal GM volume, although both groups showed decreased GM in frontotemporal brain regions over time. An interaction was observed between delusions and longitudinal change, with AD+D patients having significantly elevated GM in predominantly temporal areas at baseline assessment, becoming significantly lower than the AD-D group at follow-up. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that, there are specific volumetric markers that distinguish patients with delusions from those without, before, and after the onset of delusions. Specifically, the decline of GM in temporal areas that had elevated levels prior to the onset of delusions may be involved in the manifestation of delusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Qian
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto; the Institute of Medical Sciences (WQ, TAS, TKR, CEF), University of Toronto, Toronto
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto; the Institute of Medical Sciences (WQ, TAS, TKR, CEF), University of Toronto, Toronto; the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (TAS), University of Toronto, Toronto; the Department of Surgery (TAS), Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto; the Division of Neurosurgery (TAS), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
| | - Nathan W Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
| | - Colleen Millikin
- the Department of Clinical Healthy Psychology (CM), College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Zahinoor Ismail
- the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology (ZI, EES), Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Eric E Smith
- the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology (ZI, EES), Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Lisa M Lix
- the Department of Community Health Sciences (LML), College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - David G Munoz
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto; the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (DGM), University of Toronto, Toronto; the Division of Pathology (DGM), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
| | - Joseph J Barfett
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto; the Department of Medical Imaging (JJB), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
| | - Tarek K Rajji
- the Institute of Medical Sciences (WQ, TAS, TKR, CEF), University of Toronto, Toronto; the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute (TKR), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto; the Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (TKR), Toronto
| | - Corinne E Fischer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research (WQ, TAS, NWC, DGM, JJB, CEF), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto; the Institute of Medical Sciences (WQ, TAS, TKR, CEF), University of Toronto, Toronto; Department of Psychiatry (CEF), Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto.
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Abstract
The elderly with dementing illness often present with psychotic symptoms such as delusions, but the thematic content of delusions in the elderly differs from that of delusions expressed by younger individuals, and can be pathognomonic of early dementia. The aim of this paper is to review the recent literature on the delusion of theft, the most prevalent delusion in the elderly, in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of its sources and to identify successful therapeutic approaches. The literature from 2000 to the present was searched on the Google Scholar database using relevant search terms. Several older classical papers were also referenced. Understanding the origins of the delusion of theft - multiple losses, attempts at attributing such losses to an outside source, attempts at reliving a happier past - helps in devising responses that are comforting to the patient. The distress that often accompanies the delusion of having been robbed can be decreased by nursing home improvements in the handling of personal possessions, by the correction of sensory deficits, and by the provision of activities that distract from loneliness. Attention to stimuli that trigger the delusion helps to limit its occurrence. Medications may help, but can sometimes make matters worse. Understanding that delusional thinking can arise from sensory and cognitive deficits is critical to empathic caregiving and also to the lessening of caregiver burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary V Seeman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, #605 260 Heath St. West, Toronto, ON, M5P 3L6, Canada.
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Sarà M, Cornia R, Conson M, Carolei A, Sacco S, Pistoia F. Cortical Brain Changes in Patients With Locked-In Syndrome Experiencing Hallucinations and Delusions. Front Neurol 2018; 9:354. [PMID: 29867752 PMCID: PMC5966526 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous evidence suggests that hallucinations and delusions may be detected in patients with the most severe forms of motor disability including locked-in syndrome (LIS). However, such phenomena are rarely described in LIS and their presence may be underestimated as a result of the severe communication impairment experienced by the patients. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical history and the neuroimaging data of a cohort of patients with LIS in order to recognize the presence of hallucinations and delusions and to correlate it with the pontine damage and the presence of any cortical volumetric changes. Ten patients with LIS were included (5 men and 5 women, mean age 50.1 ± 14.6). According to the presence of indicators of symptoms, these patients were categorized as hallucinators (n = 5) or non-hallucinators (n = 5). MRI images of patients were analyzed using Freesurfer 6.0 software to evaluate volume differences between the two groups. Hallucinators showed a selective cortical volume loss involving the fusiform (p = 0.001) and the parahippocampal (p = 0.0008) gyrus and the orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus (p = 0.001) in the right hemisphere together with the lingual (p = 0.01) and the fusiform gyrus (p = 0.01) in the left hemisphere. Moreover, a volumetric decrease of bilateral anterior portions of the precuneus was recognized in the hallucinators (right p = 0.01; left p = 0.001) as compared to non-hallucinators. We suggested that the presence of hallucinations and delusions in some LIS patients could be accounted for by the combination of a damage of the corticopontocerebellar pathways with cortical changes following the primary brainstem injury. The above areas are embedded within cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical loops involved in self-monitoring and have been related to the presence of hallucinations in other diseases. The two main limitations of our study are the small sample of included patients and the lack of a control group of healthy individuals. Further studies would be of help to expand this field of research in order to integrate existing theories about the mechanisms underlying the generation of hallucinations and delusions in neurological patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sarà
- Post-Coma Intensive Rehabilitation Care Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Cassino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cornia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Conson
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonio Carolei
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Simona Sacco
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Pistoia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Vasenina EE, Gan'kina OA. [Neuropsychiatric disorders in dementia: mechanisms and treatment approach]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2017; 117:58-65. [PMID: 28980614 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro20171176258-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia can manifest at various stages during the disease. Prominence and rate of progression may depend on nosological form of dementia as well as environmental factors, concomitant diseases et al. Each psychiatric symptom is based on the specific neurotransmitter imbalance and differentiated involvement of various parts of the Central Nervous System in the pathological process. Treatment in each case should be chosen individually taking into account the balance of benefits and risks of prescribed drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- E E Vasenina
- Russian Medical Academy of Continued Professional Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - O A Gan'kina
- Russian Medical Academy of Continued Professional Education, Moscow, Russia
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Kolanowski A, Boltz M, Galik E, Gitlin LN, Kales HC, Resnick B, Van Haitsma KS, Knehans A, Sutterlin JE, Sefcik JS, Liu W, Petrovsky DV, Massimo L, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, MacAndrew M, Brewster G, Nalls V, Jao YL, Duffort N, Scerpella D. Determinants of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A scoping review of the evidence. Nurs Outlook 2017; 65:515-529. [PMID: 28826872 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 05/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are prevalent in people with neurodegenerative diseases. PURPOSE In this scoping review the Kales, Gitlin and Lykestos framework is used to answer the question: What high quality evidence exists for the patient, caregiver and environmental determinants of five specific BPSD: aggression, agitation, apathy, depression and psychosis? METHOD An a priori review protocol was developed; 692 of 6013 articles retrieved in the search were deemed eligible for review. Gough's Weight of Evidence Framework and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias were used. The findings from 56 high quality/low bias articles are summarized. DISCUSSION Each symptom had its own set of determinants, but many were common across several symptoms: neurodegeneration, type of dementia, severity of cognitive impairments, and declining functional abilities, and to a lesser extent, caregiver burden and communication. CONCLUSION Research and policy implications are relevant to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Boltz
- College of Nursing, Penn State, University Park, PA
| | | | - Laura N Gitlin
- Department of Community-Public Health, Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD; Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Helen C Kales
- The Program for Positive Aging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Kimberly S Van Haitsma
- Program for Person Centered Living Systems of Care, College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Polisher Research Institute, Madlyn & Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, PA
| | - Amy Knehans
- Penn State College of Medicine, Harrell Health Sciences Library, Research & Learning Commons, Hershey, PA
| | | | | | - Wen Liu
- College of Nursing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | | | | | | | - Margaret MacAndrew
- Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Glenna Brewster
- Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, Perelman School of Medicine, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | | | | | - Danny Scerpella
- Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Abstract
We present the case of a high-functioning 88-year-old woman who suddenly developed the persistent and disturbing belief that her home of 40 years was not genuine, but rather an accurate replica. Her episode was probably caused by a small stroke that left her with this single extremely specific deficit. We describe the patient in detail and link to a video interview of her 3 months after the onset of the delusion, eloquently describing her experience. We summarize some of the many reports and discussions of our patient's delusion, reduplicative paramnesia, as well as other delusional misidentification syndromes.
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12
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Fujishiro H, Iritani S, Hattori M, Sekiguchi H, Matsunaga S, Habuchi C, Torii Y, Umeda K, Ozaki N, Yoshida M, Fujita K. Autopsy-confirmed hippocampal-sparing Alzheimer's disease with delusional jealousy as initial manifestation. Psychogeriatrics 2015; 15:198-203. [PMID: 25737011 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized by gradual onset over years with worsening of cognition. The initial and most prominent cognitive deficit is commonly memory dysfunction. However, a subset of AD cases has less hippocampal atrophy than would be expected relative to the predominance of cortical atrophy. These hippocampal-sparing cases have distinctive clinical features, including the presence of focal cortical clinical syndromes. Given that previous studies have indicated that severe hippocampal atrophy corresponds to prominent loss of episodic memory, it is likely that memory impairment is initially absent in hippocampal-sparing AD cases. Here, we report on a patient with an 8-year history of delusional jealousy with insidious onset who was clinically diagnosed as possible AD and pathologically confirmed to have AD with relatively preserved neurons in the hippocampus. This patient had delusional jealousy with a long pre-dementia stage, which initially was characterized by lack of memory impairment. Head magnetic resonance imaging findings showed preserved hippocampal volume with bilateral enlarged ventricles and mild-to-moderate cortical atrophy. Head single-photon emission computed tomography revealed severely decreased regional cerebral blood flow in the right temporal lobe. The resolution of the delusion was attributed to pharmacotherapy by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, suggesting that the occurrence of delusional jealousy was due to the disease process of AD. Although the neural basis of delusional jealousy remains unclear, this hippocampal-sparing AD case may be classified as an atypical presentation of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshige Fujishiro
- Department of Sleep Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shuji Iritani
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Miho Hattori
- Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Fujita Mental Care Center, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Sekiguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinji Matsunaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Fujita Mental Care Center, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Chikako Habuchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Youta Torii
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Umeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Ageing, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Fujita
- Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Fujita Mental Care Center, Toyoake, Japan
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Shinagawa S, Naasan G, Karydas AM, Coppola G, Pribadi M, Seeley WW, Trojanowski JQ, Miller BL, Grinberg LT. Clinicopathological Study of Patients With C9ORF72-Associated Frontotemporal Dementia Presenting With Delusions. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2015; 28:99-107. [PMID: 25342578 PMCID: PMC4408221 DOI: 10.1177/0891988714554710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several clinical studies point to a high prevalence of psychotic symptoms in frontotemporal dementia associated with C9ORF72 mutations, but clinicopathological studies addressing the association between C9ORF72 mutations and delusions are lacking. METHOD Seventeen patients with pathologically proven frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) associated with C9ORF72 mutations were identified from Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank. Of the 17 cases with C9ORF72 mutation, 4 exhibited well-defined delusions. The clinical history, neurological examination, neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging analysis, and postmortem assessment of the patients with delusions were evaluated and compared with the other cases. RESULT The content of the delusions was mixed including persecution, infidelity, and grandiosity. All cases showed parkinsonism; voxel-based morphometry analysis showed greater precuneus atrophy in patients with delusions than those without delusions. All 4 had unclassifiable FTLD with TAR DNA-binding protein inclusions, with characteristics of both type A and type B. Three cases had additional τ pathology and another had α-synuclein pathology. CONCLUSION C9ORF72 carriers with well-defined delusions likely associated with additional pathologies and parietal atrophy in neuroimaging. Patients presenting with middle-aged onset of delusions should be screened for C9ORF72 mutations, especially if family history and parkinsonism are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunichiro Shinagawa
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Georges Naasan
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anna M. Karydas
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mochtar Pribadi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA,Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John Q. Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA,Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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14
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Li XL, Hu N, Tan MS, Yu JT, Tan L. Behavioral and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:927804. [PMID: 25133184 PMCID: PMC4123596 DOI: 10.1155/2014/927804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as depression, apathy, aggression, and psychosis are now recognized as core features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and there is a general consensus that greater symptom severity is predictive of faster cognitive decline, loss of independence, and even shorter survival. Whether these symptoms result from the same pathogenic processes responsible for cognitive decline or have unique etiologies independent of AD-associated neurodegeneration is unclear. Many structural and metabolic features of the AD brain are associated with individual neuropsychiatric symptoms or symptom clusters. In addition, many genes have been identified and confirmed that are associated with symptom risk in a few cases. However, there are no single genes strongly predictive of individual neuropsychiatric syndromes, while functional and structural brain changes unique to specific symptoms may reflect variability in progression of the same pathological processes. Unfortunately, treatment success for these psychiatric symptoms may be lower when comorbid with AD, underscoring the importance of future research on their pathobiology and treatment. This review summarizes some of the most salient aspects of NPS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ling Li
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, No. 5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, No. 5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Meng-Shan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, College of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, No. 5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, No. 5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao 266071, China
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, College of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
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15
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Murray PS, Kumar S, Demichele-Sweet MAA, Sweet RA. Psychosis in Alzheimer's disease. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 75:542-52. [PMID: 24103379 PMCID: PMC4036443 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Psychotic symptoms, delusions and hallucinations, occur in approximately 50% of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (AD with psychosis [AD + P]). Pharmacotherapies for AD + P have limited efficacy and can increase short-term mortality. These observations have motivated efforts to identify the underlying biology of AD + P. Psychosis in AD indicates a more severe phenotype, with more rapid cognitive decline beginning even before psychosis onset. Neuroimaging studies suggest that AD + P subjects demonstrate greater cortical synaptic impairments than AD subjects without psychosis, reflected in reduced gray matter volume, reduced regional blood flow, and reduced regional glucose metabolism. Neuroimaging and available postmortem evidence further indicate that the impairments in AD + P, relative to AD subjects without psychosis, are localized to neocortex rather than medial temporal lobe. Neuropathologic studies provide consistent evidence of accelerated accumulation of hyperphosphorylated microtubule associated protein tau in AD + P. Finally, studies of familial aggregation of AD + P have established that the risk for psychosis in AD is, in part, genetically mediated. Although no genes are established as associated with AD + P, the first genome-wide association study of AD + P has generated some promising leads. The study of the neurobiology of AD + P is rapidly accelerating and may be poised for translational discovery. This process can be enhanced by identifying points of convergence and divergence with the neurobiology of AD proper and of schizophrenia, by innovative extension of current approaches, and by development of relevant animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Murray
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Robert A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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16
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Hecht D. Cerebral lateralization of pro- and anti-social tendencies. Exp Neurobiol 2014; 23:1-27. [PMID: 24737936 PMCID: PMC3984952 DOI: 10.5607/en.2014.23.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggest that the right-hemisphere (RH) has a relative advantage, over the left-hemisphere (LH), in mediating social intelligence - identifying social stimuli, understanding the intentions of other people, awareness of the dynamics in social relationships, and successful handling of social interactions. Furthermore, a review and synthesis of the literature suggest that pro-social attitudes and behaviors are associated with physiological activity in the RH, whereas unsocial and anti-social tendencies are mediated primarily by the LH. This hemispheric asymmetry is rooted in several neurobiological and functional differences between the two hemispheres. (I) Positive social interactions often require inhibiting one's immediate desires and considering the perspectives and needs of others. Given that self-control is mediated by the RH, pro-social emotions and behaviors are, therefore, inherently associated with the RH as it subserves the brain's self-restraint mechanisms. (II) The RH mediates experiences of vulnerability. It registers the relative clumsiness and motor weakness of the left limbs, and it is involved, more than the LH, in processing threats and mediating fear. Emotional states of vulnerability trigger the need for affiliation and sociality, therefore the RH has a greater role in mediating pro-social attitudes and behaviors. (III) The RH mediates a holistic mode of representing the world. Holistic perception emphasizes similarities rather than differences, takes a long-term perspective, is associated with divergent thinking and seeing other points-of-view, and it mediates a personal mode of relating to people. All these features of holistic perception facilitate a more empathetic attitude toward others and pro-social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hecht
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Banno K, Nakaaki S, Sato J, Torii K, Narumoto J, Miyata J, Hirono N, Furukawa TA, Mimura M, Akechi T. Neural basis of three dimensions of agitated behaviors in patients with Alzheimer disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2014; 10:339-48. [PMID: 24600224 PMCID: PMC3933703 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s57522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Agitated behaviors are frequently observed in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). The neural substrate underlying the agitated behaviors in dementia is unclear. We hypothesized that different dimensions of agitated behaviors are mediated by distinct neural systems. METHODS All the patients (n=32) underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Using the Agitated Behavior in Dementia scale, we identified the relationships between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) patterns and the presence of each of three dimensions of agitated behavior (physically agitated behavior, verbally agitated behavior, and psychosis symptoms) in AD patients. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) software was used to explore these neural correlations. RESULTS Physically agitated behavior was significantly correlated with lower rCBF values in the right superior temporal gyrus (Brodmann 22) and the right inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann 47). Verbally agitated behavior was significantly associated with lower rCBF values in the left inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann 46, 44) and the left insula (Brodmann 13). The psychosis symptoms were significantly correlated with lower rCBF values in the right angular gyrus (Brodmann 39) and the right occipital lobe (Brodmann 19). CONCLUSION Our results support the hypothesis that three different agitated behaviors may represent distinct neural networks in AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Banno
- Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shutaro Nakaaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junko Sato
- Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Katsuyoshi Torii
- Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jin Narumoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
| | - Jun Miyata
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Toshi A Furukawa
- Departments of Health Promotion and Human Behavior and of Clinical Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masaru Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Akechi
- Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
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18
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Poletti M, Sambataro F. The development of delusion revisited: a transdiagnostic framework. Psychiatry Res 2013; 210:1245-59. [PMID: 23978732 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2012] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study proposes a transdiagnostic framework for delusion development, analysing psychiatric (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder) and neurological disorders (stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases) in which delusions are predominant. Our aim is to identify a transdiagnostic core of neural and cognitive alterations associated with delusions across distinct clinical disorders. Reviewed empirical evidence suggests delusions are associated: on the neural level with changes in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) networks, and on the neuropsychological level with dysfunction in the processes (generation of affective value, the construction of internal models of the world, and the reflection about Self and/or Other's mental states) that these network mediate. The concurrent aberration of all these processes could be critical for the clinical transition to a psychotic delusional state. In particular, delusions could become clinically manifest when (1) stimuli are attributed an aberrant affective salience, that (2) is explained by the patient within distorted explanatory internal models that (3) are poorly inhibited by cognitive control systems. This framework extends the two-factor account of delusion model and suggests that common neural mechanisms for the delusions in psychiatric and in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Poletti
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, AUSL of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Content of delusional thoughts in Alzheimer's disease and assessment of content-specific brain dysfunctions with BEHAVE-AD-FW and SPECT. Int Psychogeriatr 2013; 25:939-48. [PMID: 23433495 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610213000094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A consensus on the brain dysfunction(s) underlying the delusions of Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) remains to be achieved. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that content-based categorization of delusional ideas manifests as dysfunction of category-specific brain regions. METHODS Fifty-nine consecutive first-visit AD outpatients underwent Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Mini-Mental State Examination, and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Frequency-Weighted Severity scale (BEHAVE-AD-FW) to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF), cognitive function, and delusion, respectively. SPECT images were analyzed by SPM5. RESULTS CBF decreased at the temporal poles and right inferior temporal gyrus in "delusion of theft," at the temporal poles in "suspiciousness/paranoia," at the right parahippocampal gyrus and insula in "abandonment," and at the right amygdala in "Residence is not home." CONCLUSIONS Our findings offer a perspective on the discrete categories of the pathological thoughts of AD patients that have previously been lumped together as "delusions." Dysfunction of the temporal poles may be associated with a socioemotional deterioration that may include pathological suspiciousness. Delusion of theft may be a manifestation of socioemotional deterioration and poor insight. Emotional factors may be essential for delusions of abandonment and "not home."
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