Pharmacological management of behavioural disturbance in patients with dementia

Management of behavioural disturbance in the setting of dementia can be challenging. There are many potential causes including poor physical health, prescribed drugs, depression, impaired vision and hearing as well numerous environmental factors. Drug prescribing in patients with behavioural disturbance has evolved over the years in a haphazard and anecdotal way. As a result patients have been exposed to a wide range of drugs, some of which have significant side-effects.