Efficacy of fluvoxamine as a treatment for behavioral symptoms in frontotemporal lobar degeneration patients.

Patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) present a profound personality change, social misconduct, overeating, and stereotyped behavior. We examined the hypothesis that many of the behavioral symptoms of FTLD will respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Sixteen FTLD patients were treated with an SSRI (fluvoxamine maleate) in an open 12-week trial.

Delusions of Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Delusions constitute one of the most prominent psychiatric complications in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is little consensus of the prevalence and associated factors for delusions in AD.

Aims: To reveal the characteristics of delusions among Japanese patients with AD.

The Stereotypy Rating Inventory for frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

A many behavioral disturbances, Stereotypic behaviors are among the best discriminators of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). A recent preliminary report suggests many of the behavioral symptoms, including stereotypic behaviors in FTLD patients, respond to medication with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. However, there is no scale that evaluates stereotypic behaviors comprehensively.

Reducing the burden of caring for Alzheimer's disease through the amelioration of "delusions of theft" by drug therapy.

Background: Delusions of theft (delusions involving the theft of possessions) are one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: The current study investigated the presence and extent of such delusions before and after drug treatment in a group of AD patients, and the consequent effects on the burden of care on caregivers.

Method: The study was an open-label cohort design.