title: The Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale as a predictor of aggression against self or others in psychogeriatric inpatients.
abstract: The ability of the Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale (BDS) and its factors to predict aggression in psychogeriatric inpatients was investigated. Fifty-one neurologic and 33 psychiatric patients participated in the study. In the psychiatric group, Environmental Independence Factor (EIF: consisting of two go/no-go tasks) was more impaired in aggressive than in nonaggressive patients. In both groups, Fluid Intelligence Factor (FIF: consisting of alphanumeric sequencing, non-mirroring, and insight) was more impaired in aggressive than in nonaggressive patients. No differences between aggressive and nonaggressive patients were found for the Motor Programming Factor, BDS total score, or Mini-Mental State Exam. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve using an EIF/FIF composite demonstrated high sensitivity and modest specificity for the psychiatric patients, yielding an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 84%. Differences in the test's ability to predict aggression in the two diagnostic groups underscore the necessity for establishing unique norms for different populations.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States of America. yana.suchy@prodigy.net
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suchy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012372:ROC Curve