Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Language
English
Publication Date
11-19-2025
Journal
World Journal of Psychiatry
DOI
10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.109581
PMID
41281504
PMCID
PMC12635648
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-19-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Agitation is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by excessive motor and/or verbal behaviors, with or without aggressive behaviors. The prevalence of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease varies from 5% to over 50%. Multiple factors have been implicated in its pathophysiology, including disease stage, comorbidity with other symptoms (e.g., psychosis, anxiety/depression), and psychosocial factors. Ruling out delirium and identifying environmental triggers are fundamental steps in the management of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease. For establishing an effective therapeutic plan, it is important to define duration, severity, and potential for harm. While non-pharmacological approaches are considered the first line of intervention, pharmacological agents are frequently used in the treatment of agitation. Antipsychotics are commonly used in acute agitation. For chronic agitation, serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors, especially citalopram and escitalopram, are often preferred due to safety concerns associated with the long-term use of antipsychotics. Promising novel strategies, such as new compounds and neuromodulation, are likely to be incorporated into agitation therapeutics in the next few years.
Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Agitation, Aggression, Antipsychotics, Antidepressants
Published Open-Access
no
Recommended Citation
Teixeira, Antonio L; Kim, Youngran; Cordeiro, Thiago M; et al., "Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Assessment to Therapeutics" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 388.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthsph_docs/388