Standardizing Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dementia (StaN)
Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer Dementia (AD), Aggression
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Alzheimer's Disease focused on measuring Aggression, Agitation, Alzheimer's disease, Integrated Care Pathway, StaN, Dementia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- A clinical diagnosis of Dementia of Alzheimer's or Mixed type using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Ed. (DSM-5) criteria
- AD-AA as defined by Agitation in cognitive disorders; International Psychogeriatric Association provisional consensus clinical and research definition
- Participant or substitute decision maker (SDM) able and willing to provide consent for enrollment in the study
- 50 years or older
- Medical stability to participate in the trial.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Having dementia other than Alzheimer's or Mixed type.
- DSM-5 diagnoses other than dementia that is thought to be significantly impacting the presentation of AD-AA such as delirium, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder.
- Any other reason which in the opinion of study investigator will make the study participation intolerable for the participant.
Sites / Locations
- University of Calgary
- Providence Care
- LAWSON Health Research Institute
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
No Intervention
The Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Arm
Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) Arm
The ICP consists of 1) a cleanup phase during which a thorough assessment of pharmacotherapy to discontinue unnecessary medications, is performed; 2) Structured non-pharmacological interventions, which would have started as soon as randomization occurred and would continue before any pharmacological intervention for 2 weeks as stand-alone interventions; and 3) a pharmacological intervention phase: in this phase the medications algorithm for AD-AA is initiated.
Following eligibility and baseline assessments, half of the participants will be randomized to TAU. TAU will consist of the typical care that the interdisciplinary team provides at each site for AD-AA. No predetermined cleanup phase, non-pharmacological interventions, algorithmic pharmacological interventions will be systematically part of TAU.