PARANOID FEATURES IN THE ELDERLY WITH DEMENTIA

Ninety‐two consecutive psychogeriatric day hospital referrals were assessed using the Camdex schedule. Sixty‐six of the patients had a first‐degree relative visiting more often than once per week and the data from the patient and informant sections of these schedules were analysed to assess the prevalence of paranoid features. Overall, 36.4% fulfilled the modified criteria for paranoid disorder. Significantly more patients with Alzheimer's disease fulfulled these criteria than did those with vascular dementia, and paranoid features were most common in patients with dementia of moderate severity. Copyright © 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.