TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Causes of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia
JO  - Journal of clinical psychiatry
A1  - Kunik, M. E.
A1  - Snow, A. Lynn
A1  - Davila, Jessica A.
A1  - Steele, Avila B.
A1  - Balasubramanyam, Valli
A1  - Doody, Rachelle S.
A1  - Schulz, Paul E.
A1  - Kalavar, Jagadeesh S.
A1  - Morgan, Robert O.
SP  - 1145
EP  - 1152
VL  - 71
IS  - 9
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To examine factors predicting development of aggression. METHOD: Community-dwelling patients over 60 years of age in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center who had a documented ICD-9-CM code for dementia within 12 months of screening and no other dementia codes recorded for 2 preceding years but no aggressive behavior during the 12 months preceding study initiation were assessed every 4 months for 24 months for aggression, depression, pain, patient/caregiver relationship quality (mutuality), involvement in pleasant events, and caregiver burden. The study was conducted from September 5, 2003, to June 10, 2005. RESULTS: Of 215 patients, 89 (41%) developed aggression. In individual models, high baseline mutuality decreased risk of aggression; high burden and pain increased risk. Increases in depression and pain and declines in total mutuality also increased risk. In a full model and step-wise model, high levels of baseline caregiver burden, worst pain, and decline in mutuality over time increased risk of aggression. CONCLUSIONS: Many dementia patients become aggressive. Higher levels of worst pain, caregiver burden, and declining mutuality over time increase risk of aggression.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0160-6689
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.4088/JCP.08m04703oli
ID  - ref1
ER  -