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Disturbed behaviour in dementia--psychiatric or medical problem?
1Psychogeriatric Services, Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital, Parkville, VIC.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|November 16, 1987
Summary
Behavioral disturbances in dementia patients often stem from treatable conditions like physical illness or drug toxicity, not just dementia progression. Careful assessment can lead to significant improvement and community reintegration for most individuals.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Behavioral disturbances are common in dementia patients.
- Identifying underlying causes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the causes of behavioral disturbances in elderly dementia patients.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective clinical analysis of 70 dementia patients admitted to an acute psychogeriatric unit.
- Assessment included evaluation for physical illness, drug toxicity, and superimposed psychiatric conditions.
Main Results:
- Only 39% of behavioral disturbances were solely due to dementia progression.
- Significant untreated physical illness (34.4%), drug toxicity (8.5%), and psychiatric comorbidities (11.4%) were identified.
- The majority of patients showed significant improvement and were discharged to the community.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral disturbances in dementia patients frequently have identifiable and treatable causes.
- Comprehensive assessment is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and facilitating community return.