Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia among patients

Background The Great East Japan Earthquake triggered accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, becoming first complex disaster that included both a natural and nuclear power disaster. This study examines how disasters affect patients with dementia. Methods Participants 331 people diagnosed dementia out of 2482 new (between January 2008 December 2015) psychiatric hospital located in indoor sheltering zones nearby mandatory evacuation zones. Medical records were retrospectively examined to identify number dementia, severity, their chief complaints, behavioural psychological symptoms (BPSD) types. BPSD classified into hyperactive group hypoactive group. was further subdivided hyperactivity-impulsivity-irritability-disinhibition-aggression-agitation group, which exhibited agitation, disinhibition, irritability, psychosis delusions hallucinations. depression, inactivity, apathy, anxiety. Results divided period before (2008–2010) after (2012–2015) compared. In addition, post-complex-disaster early phase (2012–2013) late (2014–2015). proportion increased significantly Although there no change patients' age disease's whose complaint Furthermore, significant increase phase. Conclusion caused consultations from BPSD. Additionally, it participants' agitation irritability hallucinations