Consequences of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia.
This study examined aggression as a predictor of nursing-home placement, injuries, use of restraints, and use of health services in community-dwelling patients with newly diagnosed dementia. Participants were identified from 2001-2004 Veterans Administration databases; all had a new diagnosis of dementia and no aggression. Patients and caregivers were evaluated for aggression, using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-aggression subscale, and other outcomes for 2 years, with outcome rates compared between patients who did or did not develop aggression and between pre- and postaggressive periods. Of 215 patients, 88 became aggressive, associated with significantly increased use of psychotropic medication (p< or =0.04), injuries (p< or =0.0001), and nursing-home placement (p< or =0.004).
Kunik
Mark E
ME
Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mkunik@bcm.tmc.edu
Snow
A Lynn
AL
Davila
Jessica A
JA
McNeese
Thomas
T
Steele
Avila B
AB
Balasubramanyam
Valli
V
Doody
Rachelle
R
Schulz
Paul E
PE
Kalavar
Jagadeesh S
JS
Walder
Annette
A
Morgan
Robert O
RO
D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents