Associations between unmet needs for daytime activities and company and scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire in people with dementia: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine prospectively the association between unmet needs for daytime activities and company and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Methods: We included 451 people with mild or moderate dementia, from eight European countries, who were assessed three times over 12 months. Unmet needs were measured with the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly. Three sub-syndromes of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire were regressed, one-by-one, against unmet needs for daytime activities and company, adjusting for demographic and clinical-functional covariates. Results: Unmet needs for daytime activities were associated with more affective symptoms at baseline, six and twelve months, mean 0.74 (p < 0.001), 0.76 (p < 0.001) and 0.78 (p = 0.001) points higher score respectively, and with more psychotic symptoms at baseline (mean 0.39 points, p = 0.007) and at six months follow-up (mean 0.31 points, p = 0.006). Unmet needs for company were associated with more affective symptoms at baseline, six and twelve months, mean 0.44 (p = 0.033), 0.67 (p < 0.001) and 0.91 (p < 0.001) points higher score respectively, and with more psychotic symptoms at baseline (mean 0.40 points, p = 0.005) and at six months (mean 0.35 points, p = 0.002) follow-up. Conclusion: Interventions to reduce unmet needs for daytime activities and company could reduce affective and psychotic symptoms in people with dementia.

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia as a Means of Communication: Considerations for Reducing Stigma and Promoting Person-Centered Care

“…Based on these and prior findings, they concluded that the importance of identifying unmet needs is pivotal in the prevention and treatment of BPSD ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ). A similar study by Michelet et al (2021) of 451 PWD, also using CANE, found unmet needs for daytime activities and company were associated with increased affective and psychotic symptoms. They also suggest that interventions to address unmet needs for daytime activities and company may alleviate BPSD in PWD ( Michelet et al, 2021 ).…”

“…A similar study by Michelet et al (2021) of 451 PWD, also using CANE, found unmet needs for daytime activities and company were associated with increased affective and psychotic symptoms. They also suggest that interventions to address unmet needs for daytime activities and company may alleviate BPSD in PWD ( Michelet et al, 2021 ).…”

“…They also aimed to describe which unmet needs contributed to BPSD in their sample of 166 nursing home residents with BPSD. They used the widely utilized psychometric of unmet needs, the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ; Michelet et al, 2021 ). Consistent with prior studies, they found a high number of unmet needs which contribute to BPSD, including the absence of daytime activities and company ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ; Michelet et al, 2021 ).…”

“…They used the widely utilized psychometric of unmet needs, the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ; Michelet et al, 2021 ). Consistent with prior studies, they found a high number of unmet needs which contribute to BPSD, including the absence of daytime activities and company ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ; Michelet et al, 2021 ). Significant correlations between unmet and global needs and depressive symptoms, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and functional impairment were demonstrated ( Ferreira et al, 2016 ).…”

Care Needs Profiles and Their Association with Caregiver Strain among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

“…However, this approach gives equal weight to different domains of need, making it difficult to identify specific domains that warrant policy intervention. A recent study focused on unmet needs in specific CANE domains, such as daytime activities and company [10]. However, this may not capture the overlapping and interactive aspects of various care needs.…”