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Vocally disruptive behavior in the elderly: a systematic review
Armin von Gunten1, Abdel-Messieh Alnawaqil, Christoph Abderhalden
1Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Prilly, Switzerland. armin.von-gunten@chuv.ch
International Psychogeriatrics
|February 15, 2008
Summary
Vocally disruptive behavior (VDB) in the elderly, common in dementia, lacks effective treatments and understanding. Further research is needed to address this challenging condition and its impact on patients and caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Vocally disruptive behavior (VDB) affects up to 40% of nursing home residents, particularly those with dementia.
- VDB presents significant challenges in management and treatment within elderly care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on vocally disruptive behavior in the elderly.
- To identify current understanding and gaps in knowledge regarding VDB.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed (Medline, Cochrane database) and reference lists.
- Inclusion of relevant publications in English, French, and German.
Main Results:
- Limited prevalence data and small study sizes characterize current research on VDB.
- Advocated treatments are often anecdotal, with insufficient evidence for efficacy.
- Deleterious consequences of VDB on patients and others are recognized but not extensively studied.
Conclusions:
- Understanding of VDB etiology and contributing factors remains nascent.
- The heterogeneity of VDB necessitates individualized, multifaceted intervention strategies.
- Addressing VDB requires tailored approaches to alleviate suffering for patients and those around them.
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