journal articles
NEW IPA CRITERIA FOR AGITATION IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
J. Cummings
J Prev Alz Dis 2015;2(3):160-162
The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) recently formed an Agitation Definition Working Group (ADWG) to craft a consensus definition of agitation in order to advance basic and clinical research. The provisional definition created by this international group of experts on the neuropsychiatric aspects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) defines agitation as a clinical syndrome distinct from other conditions such as psychosis or depression. Patients must meet criteria for cognitive impairment and exhibit behaviors such as excessive activity and verbal or physical aggression severe enough to produce disability in social, or interpersonal functions, or activities of daily living. These symptoms should not be attributable to other psychiatric or medical disorders, suboptimal environment, or drug effects. Future validation studies are needed to confirm or revise the definition. This definition will facilitate clinical trials and other types of clinical and translational research.
CITATION:
J. Cummings (2015): New IPA Criteria for Agitation in Cognitive Impairment. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2015.65