To estimate the prevalence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia in nursing homes, assessing their association with certain factors that may promote or prevent its occurrence.

A cross-sectional study was carried out. We included all elderly diagnosed with degenerative, vascular, or mixed dementia, stage 4 to 7 of the GDS, and residents in 6 nursing homes in the province of Ourense (Spain). The assessment of symptoms was performed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home (NPI-NH) test. A sample size of 120 individuals was determined to be necessary.

We included 212 cases, with an average age of 85.7 (SD = 6.7) years. The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was 84.4%. The most common symptom was apathy, followed by agitation and delirium, the least frequent were euphoria and hallucinations. The symptom that produced most occupational disruption was agitation. Multivariate analysis showed that a higher score on the NPI-NH was associated with the use of neuroleptics, both typical and atypical, and with a higher score on the Reisberg Scale. Negative association was demonstrated with the number of days of institutionalization and the diagnosis of vascular dementia.

Patients with dementia in nursing homes in our area have a high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms that are associated with neuroleptic use and decreases as the patient remains institutionalized for longer. Patients diagnosed with vascular dementia have lower scores on the NPI-NH test.