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Treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized controlled-trial
Culo S, Mulsant BH, Rosen J, Mazumdar S, Blakesley RE, Houck PR, Pollock BG.. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 2010-10-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Sensitivity to psychotropic medications presents a therapeutic challenge when treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We compared under randomized, double-blinded conditions the tolerability and efficacy of citalopram and risperidone in the treatment of behavioral and psychotic symptoms in patients with DLB and Alzheimer disease (AD). Thirty-one participants with DLB and 66 with AD hospitalized for behavioral disturbance were treated under randomized, double-blind conditions with citalopram or risperidone for up to 12 weeks. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed with the nursing home version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC). Side effects were measured using the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale. A significantly higher proportion of participants with DLB (68%) than with AD (50%) discontinued the study prematurely. Discontinuation rates were comparable in DLB participants treated with citalopram (71%) or risperidone (65%). However, participants with DLB randomized to risperidone experienced a higher overall burden of side effects. Scores on the NPI and the CGIC worsened in DLB participants and improved in those with AD. Most patients with behavioral disturbances or psychosis associated with DLB tolerate citalopram or risperidone poorly and do not seem to benefit from either medication.
Key findings
- A significantly higher proportion of participants with DLB (68%) than with AD (50%) discontinued the study prematurely.
- However, participants with DLB randomized to risperidone experienced a higher overall burden of side effects.
- Most patients with behavioral disturbances or psychosis associated with DLB tolerate citalopram or risperidone poorly and do not seem to benefit from either medication.
Why it matters
In this trial of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease, most patients with DLB tolerated citalopram or risperidone poorly and did not seem to benefit from either medication. It offers no treatment advance for the underlying disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer disease and associated disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 83 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.6 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Bruce G. Pollock: h-index 86 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Toronto: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20625270) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), 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. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Culo, S., Mulsant, B. H., Rosen, J., Mazumdar, S., Blakesley, R. E., Houck, P. R., et al. (2010). Treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized controlled-trial. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0b013e3181e6a4d7
Vancouver
Culo S, Mulsant BH, Rosen J, Mazumdar S, Blakesley RE, Houck PR, et al. Treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized controlled-trial. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. 2010. doi:10.1097/wad.0b013e3181e6a4d7. PMID: 20625270.
BibTeX
@article{culo2010-20625270,
author = {Culo, S. and Mulsant, B. H. and Rosen, J. and Mazumdar, S. and Blakesley, R. E. and Houck, P. R. and Pollock, B. G.},
title = {{Treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized controlled-trial}},
journal = {Alzheimer disease and associated disorders},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1097/wad.0b013e3181e6a4d7},
pmid = {20625270},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0b013e3181e6a4d7}
}
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