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Wandering and fecal smearing in people with dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2010

Toshie Ata ,
Seishi Terada ,
Osamu Yokota ,
Takeshi Ishihara ,
Yoshikatsu Fujisawa ,
Ken Sasaki  and
Shigetoshi Kuroda
Toshie Ata
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Seishi Terada*
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Osamu Yokota
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Takeshi Ishihara
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Yoshikatsu Fujisawa
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Kinoko Espoir Hospital, Kasaoka, Japan
Ken Sasaki
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Kinoko Espoir Hospital, Kasaoka, Japan
Shigetoshi Kuroda
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Seishi Terada, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Phone: +81-86-235-7242, Fax: +81-86-235-7246. Email: terada@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp.
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Abstract

Background: Wandering and fecal smearing (scatolia) are among the problematic behaviors in dementia, and many caregivers are troubled by these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of patients with these symptoms.

Methods: We performed a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire items were the age, sex, living environment, diagnosis, cognitive function, and activities of daily living. Other clinical characteristics were evaluated using the quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for dementia.

Results: A total of 246 patients with dementia were rated. Wandering was observed frequently in 23%, sometimes in 12%, rarely in 14%, and never in 51% of the patients; scatolia was observed frequently in 2%, sometimes in 8%, rarely in 15%, and never in 75%. Wanderers were more frequent among those with severe dementia. They displayed more restlessness, positive affect and attachment to others with respect to QOL. The patients with scatolia tended to get lower scores in tests of cognitive function and displayed more negative affect/actions with respect to QOL. Both wanderers and patients with scatolia suffered from insomnia more frequently.

Conclusions: These results suggest that both wandering and scatolia are behavioral symptoms intimately associated with cognitive dysfunction and insomnia.

Keywords

dementiascatoliafecal smearingwanderingAlzheimer's diseasevascular dementia
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , May 2010 , pp. 493 - 500
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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