Efficacy of perospirone in the management of aggressive behavior associated with dementia.

Abstract

We assessed the efficacy of the serotonin dopamine antagonist, perospirone (PER) on aggressive and agitated behavior in demented patients. Eighteen outpatients with dementia diagnosed according to the DSM-IV were enrolled in this study, and their behavioral symptoms and cognitive impairments were assessed with the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAVE-AD) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) instruments for a period of 6 weeks. The maximum benefit of PER was achieved at a mean dose of 7.4 mg/day. Post-hoc analysis showed significant improvement in verbal outbursts after 4 weeks and in agitation scores after 4 and 6 weeks. Only 2 patients dropped out of the study, because of adverse effects, and no serious adverse effect was observed. The data suggest that PER is effective in improving aggressive and agitated behavioral symptoms in demented patients and that it is safe to use in elderly patients.

• Authors: Shinji Sato, Katsuyoshi Mizukami, Kazuo Moro, Yoshiro Tanaka, Takashi Asada
• Journal: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 679-83 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0278-5846 [Print] England
• PMID: 16581169 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Indoles
• Isoindoles
• Thiazoles
• perospirone

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aggression (drug effects)
• Antipsychotic Agents (pharmacology)
• Dementia (physiopathology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Indoles (pharmacology)
• Isoindoles
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Thiazoles (pharmacology)
• Time Factors