title: Abuse of people with dementia by family carers: representative cross sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of abusive behaviours by family carers of people with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representative cross sectional survey
  
  
  METHODS
  Community mental health teams in Essex and London.
  
  
  METHODS
  220 family carers of people newly referred to secondary psychiatric services with dementia who were living at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychological and physical abuse (revised modified conflict tactics scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  115 (52%, 95% confidence interval 46% to 59%) carers reported some abusive behaviour and 74 (34%, 27% to 40%) reported important levels of abuse. Verbal abuse was most commonly reported. Only three (1.4%) carers reported occasional physical abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abusive behaviour by family carers towards people with dementia is common, with a third reporting important levels of abuse and half some abusive behaviour. We found few cases of physical or frequent abuse, although those with the most abusive behaviour may have been reluctant to report it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, W1W 7EJ. c.cooper@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selwood
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blizard
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Livingston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult