Table 1.
Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between AD patients with (+) and without (−) hallucinations (n = 1227)
| Factor | Hall (+) n = 55 |
Hall (−) n = 1172 |
Statistics |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (IQR) | Median (IQR) | P | Z | U | |
| Age (yrs) | 67.2 (62.5–72.6) | 66.7 (60.5–72.3) | .44 | .78 | 34,226.5 |
| MMSE score∗,‡ | 19 (13–22) | 21 (17–24) | <.001 | −3.7 | 20,674.0 |
| CDR∗,‡ | 1 (1–2) | 1 (0.5–1) | .003 | 3.0 | 31,829.5 |
| Total NPI score∗ | 24 (13–34) | 8 (3–16) | <.001 | 7.1 | 48,802.0 |
| Total NPI score (excl. hallucination items)∗ |
22 (10–29.5) |
8 (3–16) |
<.001 |
5.8 |
45,475.5 |
| n (%) |
n (%) |
P |
χ2 |
df |
|
| Female gender | 27 (49.1) | 602 (51.4) | .74 | .11 | 1 |
| Presence of comorbid delusions (NPI)∗ | 22 (40.0) | 84 (7.2) | <.001 | 72 | 1 |
| History of hallucination-associated disease∗,‡,§ | 21 (38.2) | 299 (25.2) | .036 | 4.4 | 1 |
| Use of hallucination-inducing medication†,‡,¶ | 31 (56.4) | 517 (44.1) | .074 | 3.2 | 1 |
Abbreviations: AD, Alzheimer’s disease; CDR, clinical dementia rating; IQR, interquartile range; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; NPI, Neuropsychiatric Inventory.
NOTE. Results that are statistically significant (P < .05) are listed in bold.
Statistically significant (P < .05).
Trend level of statistical significance (P < .1).
Missing data in MMSE (n = 15, of which 4 in Hall (+) group) and CDR (n = 118, of which 6 in Hall (+) group). Missing data on medical history (n = 3) and medication use (n = 6) were supplemented by reviewing patient's charts.
≥1 relevant diagnosis in medical history (diagnosis considered “relevant” if hallucinations have been reported to occur as a comorbid symptom [1], [8]): Schizophrenia spectrum disorder; Mood disorder; Anxiety disorder; Personality disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Substance abuse; Hearing impairment; Visual impairment; Epilepsy; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Autism spectrum disorder; Delirium.
Use of ≥1 hallucination-inducing medication: Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors); Benzodiazepines; Oral anticholinergic drugs; Dopaminergic drugs (dopamine agonists, levodopa); Oral beta-blockers; Opiates; Lithium; Methylphenidate; Modafinil; Memantine; Betahistine; Oral antihistaminergic drugs; Antimigrainous drugs; Proton pump inhibitors; Clonidine; Baclofen; Disulfiram.