Refractory Psychosis as a Red Flag for End of Life in Individuals With Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Case Series and Re-analysis of Prior Qualitative Data.

Abstract

Objectives: Many individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) die of disease-related complications, but predicting the end of life can be challenging. We identified a phenotype associated with approaching end of life.

Methods: We present 4 exemplar cases where individuals with DLB experienced refractory psychosis before death. We reviewed codebooks and quotes from 3 studies regarding end-of-life experiences in DLB to identify experiences that aligned with this phenotype.

Results: In addition to the 4 cases, family caregivers in prior studies described prominent worsening of psychosis before death in some individuals with DLB. The worsening often occurred several months before death and was sometimes associated with rapid deterioration. Worsening psychosis was the prominent symptom and was not initially accompanied by cognitive or physical decline. In many cases, the refractory psychosis resulted in inpatient psychiatric hospitalization or residential care, but these scenarios were challenging because of the individual's behavior.

Conclusion: Refractory psychosis in DLB, particularly out of proportion to other symptoms, may be a signal of approaching the end of life. More research is needed to understand this phenomenon and to develop effective and safe treatments for psychosis in DLB.