Relationship between aggressive behaviors and depression among nursing home residents with dementia.
BACKGROUND
Verbal and physical aggression are common behavior problems among nursing home residents with dementia. Depression among nursing home residents is also a common but underdiagnosed disorder.


METHODS
Data collected on 1101 residents with dementia, newly admitted to a sample of 59 nursing homes across Maryland, were analyzed to determine if there was a relationship between depression and physical and verbal aggression.


RESULTS
Residents with dementia who manifested physical or verbal aggression had a higher prevalence of depression than those without such behaviors (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that nursing home residents with aggressive behaviors should be screened for depression and treated.
Menon
A S
AS
Mental Health Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care Center, MD, USA.
Gruber-Baldini
A L
AL
Hebel
J R
JR
Kaup
B
B
Loreck
D
D
Itkin Zimmerman
S
S
Burton
L
L
German
P
P
Magaziner
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012306:Risk; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014705:Verbal Behavior