Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) Working Group Activity / Deliverables
Working group is divided into two sub groups under the oversight of a Steering Committee.
Most Recent Activity:
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Meeting, 20th Annual Scientific Meeting – view summary, 21-23 February 2024, Washington DC – view slides
Apathy Subgroup: On the September 12th meeting, we discussed some recent literature on apathy, and the timeline of the “Mapping of validated apathy scales onto diagnostic criteria for apathy in neurocognitive disorders” project. We also introduced our new study, “Validation of a brief assessment tool for apathy in neurocognitive disorders”, which is all set to begin at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and is looking for collaborators! Please contact Krista.Lanctot@sunnybrook.ca or David.Miller@signanthealth.com for more information. View slides.
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Meeting, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, 15-17 February 2023, Washington DC – view summary: At the last meeting, we collected data from participants and experts on the mapping of NPI-C apathy subscale and AES onto the apathy diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders to evaluate correspondence between the apathy diagnostic criteria and validated scales measuring apathy severity. In this meeting, we will be presenting the analyzed results from the surveys and present a consensus reached by the experts using the modified Delphi panel methodology.
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Meeting, 2022 Autumn Conference, 8-9 September 2022, Boston MA – view summary: At the last meeting, the apathy working group discussed plans to operationalize the apathy diagnostic criteria, and to evaluate correspondence between the apathy diagnostic criteria and validated scales measuring apathy severity. We have started the process of mapping an existing scale (NPI-C apathy sub-scale) onto the diagnostic criteria using the Delphi panel methodology. This upcoming meeting will focus on progressing this work, to ensure that it can be used both clinically and for research purposes.
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Meeting, 18th Annual Scientific Meeting – view summary, 23-25 February 2022, Washington DC
Apathy Subgroup: Publication – Diagnostic criteria for apathy in neurocognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, May 2021 (open access)
Agitation Subgroup: Publication – A Framework for Developing Pharmacotherapy for Agitation in Alzheimer’s disease: Recommendations of the ISCTM Working Group 2020 (open access)
Working Group Session: 2020 Autumn Conference – Establish diagnostic criteria of acute agitation in dementia. Virtual working group meeting, 12 November 2020 – Materials and Summary. View video invitation.
Agitation Subgroup: Working Group Session – 16th Annual Scientific Meeting, 19 February 2020, Washington DC
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Session – 16th Annual Scientific Meeting, 21 February 2020, Washington DC: Summary
(Scroll down for additional subgroup activity)
BPSD Steering Committee
Larry Ereshefsky, PharmD, Steering Committee Chair
Krista Lanctot, PhD, Chair-Apathy Working Group
David Miller, MD, Chair-Apathy Working Group
Cedric O’Gorman, MD, MBA, Chair-Agitation Working Group
Paul Rosenberg, MD, Chair-Agitation Working Group
Tiffany Farchione, MD; Valentina Mantua, MD, PhD; Stephen Marder, MD; Luca Pani, MD
Background and Objectives: This working group has been convened to focus on the methodological challenges facing the development of treatments for the Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD). This group’s formation was in part stimulated by the EMA Alzheimer’s Disease Workshop which highlighted the methodological challenges and served as a robust starting point to define our Working Group’s scope. Over the first 2 years of activities it was decided that we subdivide into two subgroups each focusing on one meaningful symptom (apathy or agitation). The working subgroups are addressing the challenges and complexity associated with reliable diagnosis, reproducible symptom assessment, and the effect of disease progression across the spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease severity, beginning with Minimal Behavioral Impairment on through MCI and to AD.
The BPSD working group has formed an alliance with the ISTAART Professional Interest Area (PIA) for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in AD and the AAIC. Significant international collaboration spanning academic, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory, and clinician stakeholders has resulted in good forward progress in addressing identified areas of need and gaps in our knowledge. The BPSD Work Group has been involved in the planning and content development for presentations at the NPS PIA day (AAIC in London, 2017), and supported the ISCTM BPSD Symposium (part of joint activities with ECNP 2017) in Paris. Each subgroup has established routine conference calls to further their work. Among the areas of current activity are:
1. Support of an ongoing process to revise the Apathy diagnostic criteria (as the result of feedback from symposia and discussions with regulators and thought leaders), culminating in an anticipated Consensus Meeting;
2. The publication plans for each subgroup are progressing, including manuscripts to review the literature, summarize lessons learned from existing clinical trials, and to suggest a road-map to facilitate the development of therapies for apathy and agitation;
3. Identify challenges to the development of treatments for BPSD and recommend methodological strategies and trials designs to evaluate various treatment interventions; and
4. Discuss the relevance of neurocircuitry strategies to evaluate possible drug treatment candidates and de-risk proof of concept trials;
5. Work closely with regulators, fostering communications, which inform stakeholders on potential paths forward in support of drug approval.
Working group is divided into two sub groups under the oversight of a Steering Committee.
BPSD Steering Committee
Larry Ereshefsky, PharmD, Steering Committee Chair
Krista Lanctot, PhD, Chair-Apathy Working Group
David Miller, MD, Chair-Apathy Working Group
Cedric O’Gorman, MD, MBA, Chair-Agitation Working Group
Paul Rosenberg, MD, Chair-Agitation Working Group
Tiffany Farchione, MD
Valentina Mantua, MD, PhD
Stephen Marder, MD
Luca Pani, MD
Current Activity:
Agitation Subgroup:
Submitted White Paper: Framework for clinical development of treatments for agitation associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent activity:
Apathy Subgroup: Consensus Meeting on Apathy Diagnostic Criteria (July 2019; in conjunction with AAIC meeting)
Apathy Subgroup: Working Group Session – 15th Annual Scientific Meeting – View Slides – View Summary – 19 February 2019, Washington DC
Agitation Subgroup: Working Group Session – 15th Annual Scientific Meeting- 21 February 2019, Washington DC
Pre-consensus Meeting in conjunction with the ISTAART PIA Group- 2018 AAIC Meeting, July 2018, Chicago
Working Group Sessions – 14th Annual Scientific Meeting – 20 February 2018, Washington DC
Apathy subgroup VIEW SUMMARY – 20 February 2018 / Working toward Consensus Meeting, July 2018
Agitation subgroup VIEW SUMMARY and SLIDES – 20 February 2018 /Developing white paper
Activity History
2017 Autumn Conference Session and Working Group Session, 31 Aug – 2 Sept, Paris
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) – A way forward?
ISTAART NPS PIA day – ISCTM Session – 15 July 2017 – London
View Presentations: Addressing the challenges in treating apathy associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Working Group Dinner – 21 February 2017
BPSD Workshop, 2016 Autumn Conference. Closed session to integrate the information from the February meeting and finalize next steps for upcoming activities. Closed session objective: In depth substantive planning to implement the group’s strategic vision and road map for a series of ISCTM activities, ultimately, leading to the establishment of a consensus group meeting to further the development of treatments of Apathy and Agitation/Psychosis in Dementia.
Workshop Deliverables:Active collaboration with other professional groups, i.e., ISTAART PIA; Draft final program for 2017 Autumn meeting in Paris (31 Aug-2 Sept 2017); Program Agenda, Objectives, and suggested speakers/panel discussants; Identification of additional ISCTM supported activities to move towards a consensus group on drug development of BPSD
Inaugural Meeting, Working Group Dinner Report Back Summary, 17 February 2015, The Fairmont Washington DC