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Psychotropic medication of patients with Korsakoff's syndrome : the impact of medication reviews on psychotropic medication and possible changes in behavior

Sezer, T.S. (2013) Psychotropic medication of patients with Korsakoff's syndrome : the impact of medication reviews on psychotropic medication and possible changes in behavior.

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Abstract:Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS) is a degenerative neurological disorder caused by persistent vitamin B1 deficiency. In most cases this deficit is caused by chronic alcoholism. The condition is characterized by a disproportionate impairment in memory and executive functions relative to overall cognitive functioning. Primary medical treatments for cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms are antipsychotics, antidepressants, tranquilizers and anticonvulsants. Research on psychotropic medication of patients with KS is rare and shows mixed results for each treatment approach. Therefore, current treatment approaches should be regarded with criticism, to avoid overtreatment. In the present study data of 64 patients with KS were analyzed, in order to evaluate the advisability of systematic medication reviews for the psychotropic treatment of KS. The psychotropic treatments of patients before and after a systematic review of their medication were compared, in order to find out if the reviews were followed by changes in psychotropic medication. Further, the effects of reduced psychotropic medication on symptoms of agitation and apathy were examined. The most relevant conclusion of the study is that it is advisable, to review the psychotropic medications of patients with KS. Due to methodological issues this finding has to be regarded with caution. Further investigations are needed to confirm the conclusion. Furthermore, interesting associations could be discovered during the data analysis. Antipsychotic and antidepressant medications were associated with low levels of apathy. Even more interesting was the strong association found between number of psychotropic treatment categories a patient received and symptoms of apathy. Both findings could be interpreted as support for the effectiveness of psychotropic treatment for behavioral symptoms in patients with KS.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64197
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