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The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
Aggression in individuals newly diagnosed with dementia
Claudia A Orengo1, Jennifer Khan, Mark E Kunik
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
American Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease and Other Dementias
|February 9, 2008
Summary
Aggression is common in veterans newly diagnosed with dementia. Early screening for aggression in this population may be beneficial, as nearly 20% exhibited aggressive behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Aggression is a recognized behavioral symptom associated with dementia.
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of aggression in early-stage dementia is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine and characterize aggression in veterans recently diagnosed with dementia.
- To determine the prevalence of aggressive behaviors in this specific demographic.
Main Methods:
- Study conducted at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Houston, Texas) from 2001-2004.
- Participants were veterans aged 60 years or older with a new dementia diagnosis.
- Aggression assessed via caregiver response to the Ryden Aggression Scale during telephone screening.
Main Results:
- Out of 385 eligible participants, 75 (19.5%) displayed aggression.
- Aggressive behaviors included verbal (31%), physical (12%), and combined verbal/physical (32%).
- Unspecified aggression accounted for 25% of cases.
Conclusions:
- A significant prevalence of aggression was observed in veterans newly diagnosed with dementia.
- These findings highlight the potential utility of early aggression screening in dementia patients.
- Proactive identification and management of aggression can improve quality of life for veterans with dementia and their caregivers.
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