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Among the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are verbal and physical aggression, agitation, hallucinations, delusions, sleep disturbances, and wandering. Typical antipsychotic drugs (e.g., haloperidol), once the most common treatments for BPSD, are only modestly effective and can cause serious side effects. Might newer, atypical antipsychotic drugs (e.g., risperidone, olanzapine) have a role in treating BPSD?
To find out, researchers systematically reviewed data from 1570 patients with dementia (mean age, 82) who were enrolled in five industry-funded randomized trials of 6 to 12 weeks' duration: In four trials, risperidone was compared with placebo, haloperidol, or both; in one, olanzapine was compared with placebo. Nea…