Differentiate the clinical presentations of psychosis in clients with the four different types of dementia.

  

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Paranoid delusions are common, often involving theft or infidelity. Visual hallucinations may develop in later stages, while auditory hallucinations are rare. Agitation and confusion frequently worsen psychotic symptoms.

 

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD): Vivid visual hallucinations, such as seeing people or animals, are a key feature. Delusions typically involve paranoia, like believing unknown individuals are in the home. Rapid fluctuations in cognition and Parkinsonian symptoms further complicate Discuss a minimum of two possible approaches to treatment for dementia-related psychosis, and select a minimum of one pharmacological and one nonpharmacological approach.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): Psychosis is less frequent, with paranoia occasionally present. Hallucinations are rare, but disinhibited and compulsive behaviors dominate. A lack of empathy, impulsivity, and poor judgment often lead to social misunderstandings.

 

Vascular Dementia (VD): Delusions, particularly paranoia or misidentification, depend on the affected brain region. Hallucinations are uncommon unless cortical damage is present. Psychotic symptoms may overlap with depression or apathy, making diagnosis more complex. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a known risk factor for VD (Kauko et al., 2024).