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Examining neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia
Christopher B. Morrow, Eric Sah, Chiadi U. Onyike. International Review of Psychiatry, 2025-10-31
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Impairments in transactions (47%) and verbal communication (44%) were common at baseline, while impairments in self-care and incontinence ( 40%). Psychosis was rare at baseline (<10%). By visit 4, impairments in transactions (81%), meal-preparation (65%), self-care (55%) and verbal communication (61%) were common. Emergence of apathy, disinhibition, depression, anxiety, and irritability were associated with an increased hazard of impairments in ambulation, meal preparation, self-care, and transactions. NPS in bvFTD are frequent, occur early, and are associated with functional decline. Timely recognition and treatment of NPS may mitigate their impact on function.
Key findings
- Impairments in transactions (47%) and verbal communication (44%) were common at baseline, while impairments in self-care and incontinence ( 40%).
- By visit 4, impairments in transactions (81%), meal-preparation (65%), self-care (55%) and verbal communication (61%) were common.
- Emergence of apathy, disinhibition, depression, anxiety, and irritability were associated with an increased hazard of impairments in ambulation, meal preparation, self-care, and transactions.
- NPS in bvFTD are frequent, occur early, and are associated with functional decline.
- Timely recognition and treatment of NPS may mitigate their impact on function.
Why it matters
This study found that neuropsychiatric symptoms in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia are frequent, occur early, and are associated with functional decline, with timely recognition and treatment potentially mitigating impact. It suggests symptom management but no cure or prevention.
Study details
- Participants219
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Review of Psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | International Review of Psychiatry: journal h-index 136 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 219 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Chiadi U. Onyike: h-index 57 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41173323) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Morrow, C. B., Sah, E., & Onyike, C. U. (2025). Examining neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. International Review of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2025.2571072
Vancouver
Morrow CB, Sah E, Onyike CU. Examining neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. International Review of Psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.1080/09540261.2025.2571072. PMID: 41173323.
BibTeX
@article{morrow2025-41173323,
author = {Morrow, Christopher B. and Sah, Eric and Onyike, Chiadi U.},
title = {{Examining neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia}},
journal = {International Review of Psychiatry},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1080/09540261.2025.2571072},
pmid = {41173323},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2025.2571072}
}
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