Prevalence and correlates of aggressive behaviours occurring in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of verbal and physical aggression occurring in Alzheimer's disease sufferers. DESIGN: A retrospective note review was performed to classify the subjects according to whether they were verbally or physically aggressive (assaultive) or non-aggressive. The characteristics of the three groups were compared. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 262 patients who were living in non-institutional settings and had been diagnosed as suffering from dementia of Alzheimer's type. RESULTS: Fifty-two per cent exhibited some aggressive behaviour. Ninety-one (35%) patients were reported to be verbally aggressive and a further 46 (18%) were assaultive to their carers. Male gender (relative risk 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.11-4.17) and the presence of dyspraxia (relative risk 2.89, 95% confidence interval 1.43-5.88) both increased the likelihood of assaultive behaviour. Verbal aggression was not associated with any of the clinical features measured. CONCLUSION: Aggressive behaviour is a common phenomenon in AD and approximately one in five sufferers is assaultive. Assaultive behaviour is associated with male gender and dyspraxia.

Authors: Eastley, R; Wilcock, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: International journal of geriatric psychiatry
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 484-487
• Publication date: 1997-04-01
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199704)12:4<484::aid-gps526>3.0.co;2-#
• EISSN: 1099-1166
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• Language: English
• Keywords: Aphasia; Alzheimer Disease; England; Aggression; Logistic Models; Analysis of Variance; Apraxias; Cross-Sectional Studies; Confidence Intervals; Humans; Prevalence; Aged; Male; Retrospective Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Sex Factors; Female; Violence