Abstract

Aim: to review literature regarding the occurrence of different types of delusions in dementia and their treatment. Methods: The literature search was conducted using PubMed. Review of literature: The elderly with dementing illnesses often present with psychotic symptoms such as delusions, but the thematic content of delusions in the elderly differs from that of delusions expressed by younger individuals. An analysis of delusions and hallucinations must examine alternative etiologies, including misdiagnosis and misunderstanding, the misinterpretation of reality due to cognitive losses, sensory deprivation and vision loss, ambiguous sensations, and delirium and medical causes. Nonpharmacologic treatments frequently follow directly from etiology, such as improving sensory function via hearing aids or eyeglasses, providing stimulation, changing situations prone to misinterpretation (e.g. reflections in windows), or circumventing misinterpretations (e.g. ensuring that an equivalent object is available so there is no sense of loss or theft). Conclusions: The data from literature showed that people with dementia often present with psychotic symptoms such as delusions but also revealed differences in frequencies of different types of delusions in dementia. Apart from pharmacological treatment, a better understanding of the etiology of misinterpretation of reality (due to cognitive losses, sensory deprivation, vision loss, etc.) reveals the importance of nonpharmacologic treatments that frequently follow directly from the etiology of such symptoms. Further studies are necessary for a better understanding of the etiology of delusions in people with dementia, as well as finding effective treatment.