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Behavioural management of aggression in dementia: a randomized controlled trial
1Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of a brief behaviour management training programme for family carers of patients with dementia and aggressive behaviour.
Design:
A randomized controlled trial of a four-session, community-based behaviour management programme. The primary outcome measure was the Rating Scale for Aggressive Behaviour in the Elderly.
Participants:
62 patients with dementia, and their co-resident carers.
Results:
There were no significant differences in aggression scores between behaviour management and control groups at follow-up. After adjusting for baseline differences in Rating Scale for Aggressive Behaviour in the Elderly scores, there was a trend towards a reduction in aggressive behaviour in the patients in the behaviour management group compared with those in the control group (F = 3.37, P = 0.071).
Conclusions:
This study adds to the small evidence base for the effectiveness of behavioural management strategies in dementia.