Affective and behavioral disorders in dementia:: Diagnosis and treatment.

Behavioural disorders and affective symptoms in dementia constitute a common therapeutic and socio-economic challenge. Recent meta-analyses addressing these problems provide evidence for effective pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies. Due to dementia-associated neuronal damage pharmacological interventions often cause major side effects that demand a frequent assessment of indication and benefits of the psychopharmacological drugs used in these patients. This article summarizes the current knowledge of different therapeutic interventions.