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Agitation Severity and Psychotropic Prescription in Acute Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia
Justine Falciola, François Richard Herrmann, Christophe E. Graf, Aline Mendes. Psychogeriatrics, 2026-04-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
DSD occurred in 680 patients (39.8%). Compared with dementia alone, DSD was associated with higher PAS scores (5.3 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001), poorer functional status (FIM 48.6 vs. 57.8, p < 0.001) and more frequent in-hospital falls (29.9% vs. 17.5%, p < 0.001). Psychotropic use was common in both groups but more prevalent in DSD group (73.5% vs. 56.0%, p < 0.001), whereas treatment intensity was similar between the two groups. In regression models, psychotropic exposure was associated with higher PAS scores (β = 2.48, 95% CI 1.63-3.34), with haloperidol, quetiapine, lorazepam and alprazolam independently associated with greater agitation. Logistic models showed that delirium, in-hospital falls and hypoxia significantly increased the likelihood of psychotropic prescribing, while Parkinsonism markedly reduced antipsychotic use. DSD was linked to more severe agitation and psychotropic use. These findings support PAS-based monitoring and development of DSD-specific interventions prioritising non-pharmacological strategies.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
The record lists 1,709 participants. This study found that delirium superimposed on dementia was linked to more severe agitation and more frequent psychotropic use compared with dementia alone. Reported effect size: 39.8%; 29.9%; 17.5%.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Falciola, J., Herrmann, F. R., Graf, C. E., & Mendes, A. (2026). Agitation Severity and Psychotropic Prescription in Acute Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia. Psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70171
Vancouver
Falciola J, Herrmann FR, Graf CE, Mendes A. Agitation Severity and Psychotropic Prescription in Acute Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia. Psychogeriatrics. 2026. doi:10.1111/psyg.70171. PMID: 42047479.
BibTeX
@article{falciola2026-42047479,
author = {Falciola, Justine and Herrmann, François Richard and Graf, Christophe E. and Mendes, Aline},
title = {{Agitation Severity and Psychotropic Prescription in Acute Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia}},
journal = {Psychogeriatrics},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1111/psyg.70171},
pmid = {42047479},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70171}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Compared with dementia alone, DSD was associated with higher PAS scores (5.3 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001), poorer functional status (FIM 48.6 vs. 57.8, p < 0.001) and more frequent in-hospital falls (29.9% vs. 17.5%, p < 0.001).
- Psychotropic use was common in both groups but more prevalent in DSD group (73.5% vs. 56.0%, p < 0.001), whereas treatment intensity was similar between the two groups.
- In regression models, psychotropic exposure was associated with higher PAS scores (β = 2.48, 95% CI 1.63-3.34), with haloperidol, quetiapine, lorazepam and alprazolam independently associated with greater agitation.
- Logistic models showed that delirium, in-hospital falls and hypoxia significantly increased the likelihood of psychotropic prescribing, while Parkinsonism markedly reduced antipsychotic use.
- DSD was linked to more severe agitation and psychotropic use.
Why it matters
This study found that delirium superimposed on dementia was linked to more severe agitation and more frequent psychotropic use compared with dementia alone. The findings support PAS-based monitoring and development of DSD-specific interventions prioritising non-pharmacological strategies.
Study details
- Participants1,709
- Effect size39.8%; 29.9%; 17.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychogeriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Psychogeriatrics: journal h-index 62 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,709 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Aline Mendes: h-index 13 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Geneva: institution h-index 1,049 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42047479) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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