Behavioural or psychological disturbances in dementia

Behavioural and psychological disturbances are common in Dementia. Examples of such symptoms include apathy, mood disturbances, hallucinations, delusions, irritability, agitation, aggression and sleep changes. Typically, these symptoms are more frequent and impairing in moderate and severe forms of Dementia, although this varies by Dementia etiology. Behavioural and psychological disturbances may be present in early stages of Dementia (such as in Frontotemporal Dementia) and may be more prominent than neurocognitive symptoms.

Specifiers for Behavioural or Psychological Disturbances in Dementia should be used when, in addition to the neurocognitive and other disturbances characteristic of dementia, the current clinical picture includes behavioural or psychological symptoms that are severe enough to represent a focus of clinical intervention. As many of the following specifiers may be added to the Dementia diagnosis as necessary to describe the relevant aspects of the current clinical picture. These specifiers may be applied to all Dementia categories. They include:

• 6D86.0 Psychotic Symptoms in Dementia
• 6D86.1 Mood Symptoms in Dementia
• 6D86.2 Anxiety Symptoms in Dementia
• 6D86.3 Apathy in Dementia
• 6D86.4 Agitation or Aggression in Dementia
• 6D86.5 Disinhibition in Dementia
• 6D86.6 Wandering in Dementia
• 6D86.Y Other Specified Behavioural or Psychological Disturbances in Dementia
• 6D86.Z Behavioural or Psychological Disturbances in Dementia, Unspecified

For behavioural or psychological disturbances that is not adequately captured by any of the other available Behavioural or Psychological Disturbances in Dementia specifiers, the following specifier may be appropriate:

6D86.Y Other Specified Behavioural or Psychological Disturbances in Dementia

• There are behavioural or psychological symptoms occurring as part of Dementia that are severe enough to represent a focus of clinical intervention and are not adequately captured by the above categories.