Hojjat Soofi
The Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) terminology is widely used in dementia care and research. Despite widespread use, the terminology faces criticism, most sharply from campaigners and advocates who use #BanBPSD to call for a complete ban. This paper provides the first detailed bioethical investigation into normative and epistemic aspects of the emerging discourse on limitations or harms of BPSD terminology. I identify and examine two core claims against BPSD. The first claim, 'Explanatory Causal Claim' (ECC), concerns the explanatory inadequacy of BPSD terminology and can underpin normative arguments against its use. The second claim concerns how BPSD terminology does not sufficiently interpret manifestations labeled as BPSD as communicative responses, in 'Communicative Harm Claim' (CHC), or epistemically charged, in 'Epistemic Harm Claim' (EHC). I argue for a moderate form of ECC, reject a strong form of ECC, and for qualified versions of CHC and EHC.