Prevalence and correlates of aggressive behaviours occurring in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of verbal and physical aggression occurring in Alzheimer's disease sufferers.


METHODS
A retrospective note review was performed to classify the subjects according to whether they were verbally or physically aggressive (assaultive) or non-aggressive. The characteristics of the three groups were compared.


METHODS
The subjects were 262 patients who were living in non-institutional settings and had been diagnosed as suffering from dementia of Alzheimer's type.


RESULTS
Fifty-two per cent exhibited some aggressive behaviour. Ninety-one (35%) patients were reported to be verbally aggressive and a further 46 (18%) were assaultive to their carers. Male gender (relative risk 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.11-4.17) and the presence of dyspraxia (relative risk 2.89, 95% confidence interval 1.43-5.88) both increased the likelihood of assaultive behaviour. Verbal aggression was not associated with any of the clinical features measured.


CONCLUSIONS
Aggressive behaviour is a common phenomenon in AD and approximately one in five sufferers is assaultive. Assaultive behaviour is associated with male gender and dyspraxia.
Eastley
R
R
Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol, UK.
Wilcock
G K
GK
D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001037:Aphasia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D001072:Apraxias / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data