Behavioural symptoms of dementia — approach
Look for the cause before the medication: Pain, most common and most often missed Unmet need : hunger, thirst, toileting, cold, fatigue Infection, constipation, urinary retention Overstimulation : noise, too many people, rushed care Understimulation and boredom Approach to care : too fast, from behind, without explanation. Non-pharmacological interventions first : adapt the environment, slow down, one caregiver, familiar routine, validation rather than confrontation. Antipsychotics only for severe distress or danger, at the lowest dose, reassessed regularly.