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Aggressive behavior in hospitalized psychogeriatric patients
K Nilsson1, T Palmstierna, B Wistedt
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Akersberga Hospital, Sweden.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Aggressive behavior in psychogeriatric patients often targets nursing staff during daily care. Frequency decreased over six weeks, suggesting potential for treatment interventions in elderly care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Aggressive and hostile behaviors are significant challenges in psychogeriatric care.
- Understanding the triggers and patterns of aggression is crucial for effective patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and characteristics of aggressive behavior in psychogeriatric inpatients.
- To identify factors correlating with the severity and frequency of aggression.
- To observe changes in aggressive behavior over a defined observation period.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Staff Observation Aggression Scale (SOAS) for data collection.
- Observed 40 psychogeriatric inpatients over a six-week period.
- Analyzed correlations between aggression, age, and length of admission.
Main Results:
- Most aggressive acts were directed at nursing staff during activities of daily living.
- A positive correlation existed between patient age and aggression frequency.
- Aggression severity correlated most strongly with length of hospital admission.
- A significant decrease in the frequency of aggressive behavior was observed over the six weeks.
Conclusions:
- Aggression in psychogeriatric inpatients is often context-specific, occurring during care provision.
- Age and length of stay are associated with aggression patterns.
- The observed decrease suggests potential for therapeutic interventions and highlights the need for further research into treatment efficacy.