Anticonvulsants for behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia: protocol for a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are present in a majority of patients with dementia contributing to increased morbidity, health care costs, and caregiver burden. While there are no United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for these symptoms, off-label use of medications such as antipsychotics have been shown to have significant adverse effects including increased mortality. The goal of this review is to examine the efficacy and safety of anticonvulsants in the treatment of BPSD.

Methods

We will systematically search for randomized trials of anticonvulsants compared to placebo or other treatments such as antidepressants and antipsychotics from the following sources: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OVID SP) in Pro

SUBMITTER: Benjamin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6525967 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature