Abstract | OBJECTIVE: This randomized, observer-blind, controlled trial examined the efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Yi-Gan San (YGS, Yokukan-San in Japanese) in the improvement of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and activities of daily living ( ADL). METHOD: Fifty-two patients with mild-to-severe dementia (24 men and 28 women, mean +/- SD age = 80.3 +/- 9.0 years) according to DSM-IV criteria were investigated. Participants were randomly assigned to the YGS group (N = 27) or control (drug-free) group (N = 25) and treated for 4 weeks. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) for the assessment of BPSD, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function, and the Barthel Index for ADL were administered at baseline and the end of the treatment. The frequency of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and other adverse events was recorded. If patients showed insufficient response to treatment after 1 week, tiapride hydrochloride, a dopamine D(1) selective neuroleptic, was added to the regimen. Data were collected from January 2004 to March 2004. RESULTS: All participants in both groups completed the trial. In the control group, 11 patients required treatment with tiapride hydrochloride. Significant improvements in mean +/- SD NPI (from 37.9 +/- 16.1 to 19.5 +/- 15.6) and Barthel Index (from 56.4 +/- 34.2 to 62.9 +/- 35.2) scores were observed in the YGS group, but not in the control group. MMSE results were unchanged in both groups. EPS were not observed in either group, but dizziness and impaired postural sway were observed in 6 patients treated with tiapride hydrochloride. CONCLUSION:
Yi-Gan San improves BPSD and ADL. Follow-up studies using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled design are recommended.
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Authors | Koh Iwasaki, Takuma Satoh-Nakagawa, Masahiro Maruyama, Yasutake Monma, Miyako Nemoto, Naoki Tomita, Haruko Tanji, Hironori Fujiwara, Takashi Seki, Masahiko Fujii, Hiroyuki Arai, Hidetada Sasaki |
Journal | The Journal of clinical psychiatry
(J Clin Psychiatry)
Vol. 66
Issue 2
Pg. 248-52
(Feb 2005)
ISSN: 0160-6689 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15705012
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Dopamine Antagonists
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
- Tiapamil Hydrochloride
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Topics |
- Activities of Daily Living
(psychology)
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
(psychology)
- Basal Ganglia Diseases
(chemically induced)
- Behavioral Symptoms
(drug therapy, psychology)
- Dementia
(diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
- Dopamine Antagonists
(therapeutic use)
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- Phytotherapy
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
- Tiapamil Hydrochloride
(therapeutic use)
- Treatment Outcome
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