Two patients with severe dementia and multiple medical problems but with no other psychiatric diagnoses were treated with carbamazepine for agitation. They tolerated the medication well and their behavior improved, consistent with carba mazepine's efficacy for agitation in other syndromes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1988;1:110-112).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Cohen-Mansfield J., Billig N.: Agitated behaviors in the elderly: I. A conceptual review: J Am Geriatr Soc1986 ;34:711.
2.
Helms PM: Efficacy of antipsychotics in the treatment of the behavioral complications of dementia: A review of the literature. J Am Geriatr Soc1985;33:206.
3.
Risse CS, Barnes R.: Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc1986;34:368.
Hokola Hpa, Laulumaa VA: Carbamazepine treatment of violent schizophrenics. Lancet1982;1:1358.
6.
Tunks ER: Carbamazepine in the dyscontrol syndrome associated with limbic system dysfunction . J Nerv Ment Dis1977; 164:56.
7.
Dalby MA: Antiepileptic and psychotropic effect of carbamazepine in the treatment of psychomotor epilepsy. Epilepsia1971;12:325.
8.
McAllister TW : Carbamazepine in mixed frontal lobe and psychiatric disorders. J Clin Psychiatry1985;46:393.
9.
Anton RF, Waid RL, Fossey M., et al: Case report of carbamazepine treatment of organic brain syndrome with psychotic features. J Clin Psychopharmacol1986;6:232.
10.
Essa M.: Carbamazepine in dementia. J Clin Psychopharmocol1986;6:234.
11.
Post RM, Uhde TW, et al: Carbamazepine and its -10, 11-epoxide metabolite in plasma and CSF: Relationship to antidepressant response. Arch Gen psychiatry1983;40:673.
12.
Post RM, Uhde TW, et al: Kindling and carbamazepine in affective illness. J Nerv Ment Dis1982;170:717.
13.
Post RM: Mechanisms of action of carbamazepine and related anticonvulsants in affective illness, in Psychopharmacology: A Generation of Progess. New York, Raven Press , 1987.
