Estrogen therapy and aggressive behavior in elderly patients with moderate-to-severe dementia: results from a short-term, randomized, double-blind trial.
The authors used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial study design to investigate the efficacy and safety of short-term estrogen therapy in decreasing aggressive behaviors in elderly patients with moderate-to-severe dementia. Estrogen therapy was associated with lower total aggression scores (P<0.030) and with decreased frequency of physical aggression (P<0.019) over the 4-week trial. Verbally aggressive behaviors were decreased relative to control subjects, although this effect was not statistically significant. No drug-vs.-placebo differences were found for resistive, sexual, or self-directed aggressive behaviors. No adverse effects from the estrogen were observed during the course of the study.
Kyomen
H H
HH
Harvard Medical School, Division on Aging, Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
Satlin
A
A
Hennen
J
J
Wei
J Y
JY
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)