Objective: Studying Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) across cultures allows the identification of similarities and differences that may be useful to determine the approach to management of these symptoms. Although the behavioral and psychological symptoms comprise one of the major domains of age-associated dementia, BPSD are not yet regarded as a main health issue in many developing countries, such as Turkey. Family members in Turkey are more likely to report behavioral and psychological symptoms rather than memory problems in their patients. Caregivers in our community may undereport BPSD because of fear of their relatives being mentally ill. On the other hand, their desire are not to relinquish the caregiver role and their religious values.The same values are important in other islamic countries.
We performed a MEDLINE search on BPSD in islamic countries. We also attempted personal communications with colleagues in these countries.
Materials and Methods: Demographic data were gathered on 190 consecutive patients with probable Turkish AD. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and behavior assessed by the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE -AD).
Result: The present study demontrated that behavioral and psychological symptoms were very often in Turkish AD cases, occuring in 91.5% of them. Most frequent symptoms in Turkish AD patients are "purposeless activity", "people are stealing things" delusion,wandering, tearfulness and fear of being left alone.
The patients were seen by us at a late stage (GDS,stage 5 and 6). The demented patients were mostly cared for by their spouses or the eldest daughter in their homes.
Conclusion: In the light of this study and other studies about BPSD in Turkey, in this symposium we will focus on the influence of Turkish culture and family system, religious values in Turkish elderly with dementia. We will resume Turkish doctor's selection of drugs in patients with BPSD. The drastic shortage of spesific treatment centers for the demented elderly will be mentioned. All these results will be compared to the results obtained in other Islamic countries.
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